150 Cassava Farmers In Edo State Get CBN Loan

A total of 150 cassava farmers in Auchi, Estako West Local Government Area are set to receive loan support under the Central Bank of Nigeria Anchors Borrowers Scheme.

Also, some Auchi youths who were recently deported from Libya have indicated interests to be registered in the scheme.

Otaru of Auchi, HRH Alhaji Aliru Momoh, Ikelebe III donated 500 hectares of land to the cassava farmers for the success of the scheme.

Addressing the farmers at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the farmers, CBN officials and other supporting institutions, Governor Godwin Obaseki said he has many projects to uplift the living condition of farmers in the state.

Governor Obaseki who was represented by his Special Adviser on Agriculture, Prince Joe Okojie, assured the farmers that tractors would soon be made available to prepare the land for the farmers.

Obaseki noted that the decision to engage the farmers in clusters was to teach them new ways of farming in his quest seek alternative to oil.

He said the new ways were for the farmers to see farming as a business and make good profit.

“We don’t want to send you to farms without giving you the necessary tools. We can’t send people to farms without access to funding, market and high yielding species.

“We will buy the farm products at the existing market prices. The loan is a single digit interest rate. How well you look after your farm will determine your profit.”

Coordinator of All Farmers Association of Nigeria in the locality, Abdullahi Mohammed, said he was convinced of success in the programme as it would enable them farm without inhibition.