By Victoria Okpanachi
In a significant step to encourage smart agriculture and empower farmers, the Kogi State Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, has flagged off the 2nd phase of its Community Revolving Fund (CRF) programme, with the presentation of cheques to 80 communities comprising of over 2,381 direct beneficiaries in 21 Local Government Areas of the state.
The state Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, who presented the cheques to the beneficiaries on Monday, in Lokoja, said the CRF aims to help farmers achieve smart agriculture as it tends to reduce poverty and aligns with the state’s 32 years development plan.
He said the state was giving out 2 million dollar loan to 80 benefiting communities, while urging them to judiciously use the loans to enable other communities to be integrated into the scheme in future.
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According to him, the CRF was in line with his administration’s commitment to ensure food security and sustainable agricultural practices in the state.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for according priority to sustainable agricultural practices.
The governor used the forum to reiterate his administration’s commitment towards providing an enabling environment for the success and sustenance of the ACReSAL project.
Contributing ,the Project Coordinator, Barr. Ladi Jatto, said she was excited to invite beneficiaries for the second phase distribution of the CRF.
According to her, a total of $2million would be disbursed to 176 Community Revolving Fund groups in 80 communities across the state in the 2nd phase. And that 2,321 beneficiaries comprising 1,084 females and1,237 males are earmarked for the exercise.
According to her, ACReSAL CRF Subcomponent is the first community revolving fund scheme in the World Bank Support Project in Nigeria.
She emphasised that the purpose of CRF is to address low agricultural productivity and reduce poverty, while encouraging the practice of smart agriculture in a sustainable way.
The Project Coordinator further revealed that Kogi was the first state to be cleared for the second phase of disbursement programme out of the 19 northern states that are part of the project.
Barr. Jatto then used the forum to urge the beneficiaries to display accountability in the usage of the loan.
Also speaking ,the Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Matters, Engineer, Joseph Oluwasegun,.lauded Gov. Ahmed Usman Ododo for his continuous support towards ensuring that the project thrives in the state.
He equally encouraged each group to emulate the leadership style of the state governor by making sure they explore initiatives that will create expansion not just in their lives but in their communities.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr. Uja Phillips from Kogi East and Mr Ahmed Tijanni from Kogi Central, appreciated the governor for what they described as progressive initiatives while promising to utilise the opportunities given to them to reduce poverty and improve agriculture in the state.
