The Ekiti State Government disbursed yesterday N60 million loans to 48 farmers’ cooperative societies.
Handing out the cheques at the inauguration of the Farmers Loan Support Programme in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Governor Kayode Fayemi said the intervention was in fulfillment of his promise to support cooperative farming.
The beneficiaries included Poultry Farmers Association, Fisheries Association, Cocoa Growers Association, the Butchers and Ekiti State Farmers Congress.
Fayemi said farmers who are yet to repay previous loans were excluded from the scheme.
He said: “My administration is doing everything possible to give agriculture its pride of place. You will recall my promise to support cooperative farming. I am glad to inform you that we have not reneged on our words and have been working to fulfill them. Today, I assure you that 48 AFAN Cooperatives will be supported as well as individual beneficiaries drawn from various commodity associations, including the Poultry Association, Fisheries Association, Cocoa Growers Association, the Butchers and Ekiti State Farmers Congress. A total of N60 million is being released in this first tranche.”
Fayemi said the Agbeloba Agric Forum held in the state last year has proved productive, adding that Ekiti’s partnership with the Bank of Agriculture has yielded a 50-50 contributory loan of N600 million for agricultural development.
He urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the loans and repay them promptly.
AFAN Chairman Ademola Okeya hailed the government’s efforts to make Ekiti the food basket of the Southwest.
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