Chief of Staff to Abia State Governor, Dr Caleb Ajagba, presenting a cheque to a beneficiary of the Interest-free Agric Empowerment loan
Agric revolution coming as Abia flags off agric loan, 298 CSS Farm trainees benefit
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Agricultural revolution is in the offing in Abia State as the state government has started giving interest-free loans to farmers.
First set of beneficiaries of the scheme christened Abia State Interest-free Agric Empowerment Loan are the 298 individuals recently trained on modern farming techniques at CSS Farm in Nassarawa State.
Abia State government sponsored the training of the 298 young farmers as part of the measures to make Abia youths to develop more interest in farming and increase the state’s agricultural output.
Flagging off the loan disbursement, Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, said it was a deliberate effort to create a new pathway to wealth for the citizens by providing them with the needed support to make the most of available resources domiciled in the State.
The Governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, said that the state government was committed to making agriculture a fulcrum of economic development and job creation policies.
“Additionally, it sets a foundation for a new model of empowerment designed to effectively make our people financially independent in the long run, working for themselves and adding real value to our gross domestic output,” he said.
Governor Otti said that government expects much from the beneficiaries, adding that more money would be made available to those committed to the project and advised them to make judicious use of the funds.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, had said that each of the farmers would, in turn, train three others, while the state would also train more, to continue its multiplier effect.
According to the Commissioner, the Ministry of Agriculture has put in place, a schedule through which it would monitor progress of the beneficiaries.
Dr Agbaeze also disclosed that the government intended to mainstream modern agricultural practices into the educational curriculum, beginning from the basics.
Responding on behalf of other beneficiaries, Chioma Onyekachi commended the state Governor for sending them to be trained at the CSS Farm and assured that they would utilize the loan judiciously to be able to contribute to food security in the State.
