Mr Emmanuel Odigie, Chairman of Edo chapter of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), has requested N500 million loan from the state government for members of his association.
Odigie, who made the request in Benin on Wednesday during an interaction with newsmen, said that the money would enable the farmers to boost their agricultural production.
He gave an assurance that if the loan was given to the farmers, they would repay it within 18 months.
He pledged that the association would ensure that only genuine farmers were given the loan to boost food production in the state.
“We are using this medium to appeal to the state government to provide soft loans for our members so as to boost the production of arable crops in the state.
“We are aware that government does not want to give out loans because of the fear that people will not repay the loans. However, it is better to give loans to an association like AFAN than to individual farmers.
“We are assuring you that if the loan is given to AFAN, we will pay back every kobo in 18 months,’’ he said.
The AFAN chairman said that part of the loan would be used to construct earth dams, warehouses and sink boreholes to promote dry season farming.
He expressed the hope that the loan would also facilitate efforts to provide part of the 200,000 jobs, which Gov. Godwin Obaseki promised during his election campaign.
“We are using this medium to appeal passionately for support in form of loans or grants to enable farmers to cultivate the over 20 million hectares of arable land in the state,” he said.
Odigie also called on the Federal Government to overhaul all the nation’s river basin development authorities, adding that this would help farmers to engage in all-year farming.
He voiced support for calls for the establishment of cattle ranches, as part of efforts to address the incessant farmers-herdsmen clashes across the country. (NAN)
