Food Security: Oyo begins disbursement of N1bn SAfER loan to farmers

 

Oyo state Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, and chairman, SAfER Food Security Sub-Committee, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, has said the state government has kicked off the disbursement of N1 billion Agric Support Loan to farmers across the state.

He made this known Wednesday at the symbolic presentation of the cheques to beneficiaries and participating Microfinance Banks, through the Agricultural Credit Corporation of Oyo state (ACCOS), at the conference room of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

The commissioner said the agric loan support will reduce the cost of food and also sustain the economic recovery of the state, adding, “the loan facility is strictly for farmers and it is being issued strictly based on the merit of applications and the process will not be politicised.”

Olasunkanmi added that qualified farmers will be able to access between N250,000 and N1million based on the size of their farms, adding that the state government had, under the food security component of SAfER, distributed farm inputs and maize grains to poultry farmers.

“We are all aware that the governor launched the SAfER sometimes ago. Food security is one of the different components of the programme, which is aimed at ameliorating the hardship of the people following the removal of fuel subsidy. We have other components such as transport support, where the state government has provided buses at reduced costs for our people.”