L-R: Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze; Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, and Special Adviser to the Governor, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, during the briefing
Abia approves N3 million interest-free loan for farmers
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Abia State Executive Council has approved between N1 million and N3 million interest-free loan for the 302 young farmers the government sponsored their training at CSS Farms in Niger State.
Governor Alex Otti had last September, flagged off the disbursement of the loan to enable the beneficiaries to catch up with the current farming season.
But the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting on Monday at Government House Umuahia, said that the process for the disbursement of the loan was now in full swing having been ratified by the state Executive Council.
“The process for the disbursement of interest-free loans to the 302 CSS Farms-trained youth farmers has commenced.
“This follows the flag-off and approval of the disbursement of interest-free loans by His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti, sometime in the month of September. Despite this loan approval, the Ministry of Agriculture will ensure a guided disbursement of the loans to ensure that there is no abuse of the scheme,” the Commissioner said.
He added that the disbursement would be in tranches, according to the agricultural venture undertaken by a trainee.
“Beneficiaries will not be given one balloon payment. Rather, the disbursement will be in tranches on milestones that will be tied to the level of extent of work done by the beneficiaries. All these are to ensure that the loans are adequately utilized,” Prince Kanu explained.
On the health sector, the Commissioner announced that Abia was free from any new case of cholera, Diphtheria, Lasser Fever and M-Pox.
“As at date, Abia State is free from any new cases of Cholera, Lassa fever, Diphtheria and M-pox and what that speaks to is the fact that the state Ministry of Health is alive to its duties and working round the clock to ensure that Abians and Abia residents enjoy good health and healthy living,” he said.
Governor Alex Otti, he continued, would, on the October 28, flag-off free-screening exercise for hypertension and diabetes patients across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state, adding that Rouche Diagnostic Would be partnering the state in the project to the tune of N30 million.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Cliff Agbaeze, said that the interest-free loan for the first batch of CSS Farm trainees ranges from N1 million – N3 million, depending on the agric venture undertaken by each beneficiary, adding that the ministry would see them through the process.
