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As part of its commitment to creating agro-allied jobs and wealth through value chain management, Kwara State Government yesterday disbursed N215 million loan to 172 farmers who will service as change agents in their various communities.
Disbursing cheques to the beneficiaries at the Banquet Hall in Ilorin, the State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed emphasised government’s commitment to the establishment of an agribusiness culture in driving the state’s economy.
“Today, we take a step closer to that dream of agro-driven growth with the launch of the Off-Taker Demand Driven Scheme to extend agribusiness to other parts of the State by empowering a new generation of commercial farmers to ensure our people are food secured, establish agribusiness as the pivot of our economy and regenerate agro-allied industrial development”, the Governor said.
Dr Ahmed explained that the 172 lead farmers were the core of his administration’s model of ten out grower farmers per local government who will receive funds to expand their businesses because they have proven capacity to drive agribusinesses, adding that they will partner large farming concerns that will guarantee a steady demand for crops planted by them even before they are harvested.
The Governor charged the beneficiaries to be change agents that will train the next generation of commercial farmers in the State in their various communities, stressing that they should judiciously apply the funds disbursed to them for the establishment of agriculture as the pivot of Kwara State’s economic prosperity.
Reacting on behalf of beneficiaries, the Olusin of Isanlu-Isin, Oba Solomon Oloyede, thanked Governor Ahmed for a promise fulfilled, pledging strict adherence to terms and conditions of the loan in order to allow others potential beneficiaries to be accommodated in the scheme.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Barr. Anthony Towoju, in his address, said the farmers were expected to plant maize, rice, soya beans and cassava as part of efforts to turn around the future of agriculture in Kwara State.
