Ninety-four farmers from the Kaiama local government area of Kwara state have benefitted from an agricultural input finance scheme totalling N48.4 million.
Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Wednesday, a grassroots development advocate, Kayode Oyin-Zubair, said that the project, facilitated under the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), is part of a larger initiative aimed at boosting agricultural productivity through improved funding, mechanisation, and adoption of modern farming techniques.
He also said that beneficiaries, grouped in farm clusters, received different amounts based on farm size.
“The finance—monitored by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and insured by the Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC)—is structured for post-harvest repayment. Farmers who repay promptly are entitled to a 40 per cent interest refund”.
Oyin-Zubair, who described the intervention as a game-changer for rural farmers, said that the support came at a critical time in the planting season.
The project, which was originally proposed by His Royal Highness, the Kwozi of Wozibe community, Kaiama local government, Alhaji Ahmed Ibn Mohammed, focuses on helping farmers scale up through mechanisation and hybrid seed adoption. Alhaji Mohammed, a former Kwara State House of Assembly member and seasoned farmer, emphasised the urgent need for farmers to adapt to climate change realities.
“If our farmers must remain competitive and productive, we must embrace hybrid seeds, mechanised operations, and modern harvesting techniques”, he said.
Oyin-Zubair said that the second phase of disbursement is scheduled for August, with preparations already underway for dry season farming. He also said that the funding firm’s agriculture and business desks provided professional support, making the process smooth and transparent.
“Additionally, an off-take arrangement that could mobilise over ₦1 billion worth of farm produce has already been secured, providing assurance of market access for the farmers’ output.
The local farmers, who are beneficiaries of the scheme, expressed gratitude and optimism, describing the project as timely and impactful. They said that it has opened a new chapter for agriculture-driven prosperity in Kaiama and surrounding communities.
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