In Nigeria, 2,4m farmers to get N600bn Agriculture Finance – Minister (Agric)As the Covid-19 pandem
In Nigeria, 2,4m farmers to get N600bn Agriculture Finance – Minister (Agric)
As the Covid-19 pandemic rages on along with its resultant economic downtime, not less than 2.4 million farmers in Nigeria are to benefit from a N600 billion Agricultural Finance Scheme.
Nigeria’s minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono revealed that the facility which was interest free targeted farmers cultivating rice and other cash crops.
The minister made the disclosure at the inauguration of the 2020 wet season rice cultivation support programme at Tofai community in Gabasawa Local Government Area of Kano State.
The programme is being implemented under the Agro Processing Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support Project (APPEALS).
Nanono said the initiative would support farmers to achieve improved productivity, enhance self sufficiency and food security in the country.
He said: “We have commenced farmer registration exercise to capture their information, number of farmlands and locations.
“Also, the beneficiaries will be monitor to ensure effective utilisation of the facility, and mobilise participation in subsequent programmes.”
Nanono commended the APPEALS project for supporting rice farmers in the state, noting that the gesture would go a long way to encourage agricultural activities in the country.
The minister urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the of fertiliser, seeds and inputs given to them to boost their production capacity.
“If you make proper use of the inputs, you could employ other people and it will enable you to participate in subsequent programmes.”
One of the beneficiaries, Alhaji Zubairu Ibrahim, Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in the state, lauded the Federal Government’s agriculture transformation programmes.
Ibrahim said the association would adopt proactive measures to assist its members benefit from viable agriculture development programmes and farmer support services initiated by the government.