Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, on Tuesday disbursed N1billion interest-free loans under the Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS), to 517 farmers associations, comprising about 4,000 members in the state.
Launching the scheme at the Government House in Kano, Ganduje explained that the fund was secured from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for promoting commercial agricultural enterprises.
The governor said the loan, which would be disbursed to small and medium scale farmers groups, is part of efforts by his administration to diversify agriculture, reduce poverty, create more jobs and enhance food security.
“Agricultural commodities included in the value added chain to be covered by the loan are dairy production, fishery, cotton, maize, wheat and rice”, the governor said.
“To actualise this initiative and fast track development of agricultural section of the economy, the need arose to reduce the credit on agricultural production to enable farmers benefit from the potential of the sector such as to increase output, generate employment and diversify the revenue base of the state.”
Describing agriculture as the way out of the current economic recession and an opportunity for farmers to boost their harvest, Ganduje revealed that a workshop would also be organised to train beneficiaries of the scheme on efficient management of the funds.
Consequently, the governor urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the loans, warning that a special mobile court would be constituted to prosecute any beneficiary who defaults in re-paying the loans at the end of its tenor.
CBN representative at the occasion, Abubakar AbdulKadir, who made a presentation titled “CACS Fund: Accessibility, Distribution and Recovery”, explained that the loans were repayable in two years, to enable as many farmers as possible to benefit.
On her part, Kano State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Zubaida Abubakar, who presented a paper on “How to Run a Successful Agricultural Enterprise”, was of the opinion that farmers should imbibe the attitude of bookkeeping, sourcing raw materials at cheaper price and maximising time of production to ensure accountability.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Sani Yadakwari, a cattle breeder, whose association received N5million, assured that they would use the loans prudently.
