By Abdoulaye Kay
Sokoto state government has concluded plans to secure loan for 7,000 cassava farmers in the state.
Governor Aliyu Wamakko stated this at the occasion of the 2013/2014 Dry Season Paddy Rice Production Inputs (Fertilizers and Seeds) Roll-out of Growth Enhancement Support (GES), which held at Keta village in Goronyo local government of the state.
He disclosed that the state government had paid a total of N143,500,000, being 10 percent interest rate of N205,000 charged every each of the 7,000 farmers on the loan.
Wamakko further stated that government would spent N35 million to get the farmers registered with the Cassava Farmers Association as well as provide markets to sell the products.
Minister of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina represented by Director of Federal Ministry of Agriculture in the state, Dr. Jibrin Audu stated that the number of dry season paddy rice producers was on the increase.
“Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) is gradually turning farming to an all-year-round business, thereby enhancing wealth creation and food security,” he stated.
Adesina added that supply chain managers had been engaged to supervise input distribution at the redemption centres “in order to improve service delivery and make GES truly innovative and sustainable.”
