Ododo unveils $25,000 loan scheme for Kogi farmers

The Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, has unveiled the Community Revolving Fund loan disbursement allowing cluster groups of farmers in the State to access $25,000 each.

The CRF loan is facilitated under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes project in collaboration with the World Bank.

The scheme is an initiative aimed at addressing the challenges of climate change as well as supporting community agricultural efforts.

Ododo, in his remarks at the unveiling on Wednesday, at the Government House in Lokoja, the state capital, thanked all stakeholders involved in the project and emphasized his administration’s commitment to agricultural development.

The governor noted that within five months, his administration has implemented various initiatives to enhance agricultural productivity,  including the provision of agricultural machinery for mechanisation, agricultural inputs, training, and capacity building for farmers.

The CRF loan disbursement prioritises women, with 70 per cent of the beneficiaries listed for them.

He urged the ACReSAL CRF beneficiaries to utilise the loan judiciously, stressing that it is designed to support their agricultural endeavours and improve their livelihoods.

Ododo assured that the loan would boost agricultural practices in the catchment areas, leading to increased food production and security.

Earlier in his remarks, the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, represented by Jibril Abu, emphasised the importance of partnership for progress, as highlighted in the 17 thematic areas of the Sustainable Development Goals.

He commended the governor for his leadership and commitment to the development of the state.

Also, the State Project Coordinator of ACReSAL, Ladi Jatto, commended the governor for his total commitment to the success of the project in the state, saying the Governor has made it easy for the people of Kogi to take advantage of the project.

She called on the beneficiaries to make the best of the opportunity presented by the presentation of cheques to them by using the funds for the purpose stipulated.

The state Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Mukadam Asiru, and his Environment and Ecological Management counterpart, Engr Olusegun Joseph, thanked the Governor for paying due attention to the plight of the rural poor.

The Obaro of Kabba and the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland also commended the Governor for his efforts in supporting the agricultural sector.

The beneficiaries in their separate remarks expressed their gratitude to Governor Ododo for the unprecedented prompt payment of salaries, especially the recent payment of June salary before the Sallah celebration festival, saying it’s the first of it’s kind for the workers of the state civil service.

While appreciating the state government for the opportunity, the beneficiaries assured Governor Ododo of their determination to ensure judicious use of the loan.

They praised the governor’s commitment to agricultural development and his dedication to improving the lives of the people of Kogi State.

The CRF loan disbursement is a significant milestone in the state’s agricultural development journey, and it is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of the beneficiaries and the state’s agricultural sector as a whole.