All is now set for the Bank of Agriculture and Central Bank of Nigeria to disburse #1 Billion Agric Anchor loan to Abia farmers.
Disclosing this during a meeting with farmers of the Apex of Farmers Cooperative Society Limited (AFCOSOL) and representatives of the Bank of Agriculture and Central Bank of Nigeria in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, the President of AFCOSOL, Chief Uzoma Nwogwugwu, said the Agric Anchor loan which is for expansion would be given only to farmers who are into livestock farming like goatry, fishery and poultry, as well as crop farmers who are into the growing of palm oil, cassava, maize and rice.
Nwogwugwu said the meeting was to enlighten farmers on the loan scheme which is basically for farm expansion and enhancement, stating that all interested farmers would be qualified to access the loan inasmuch as the farmer fall into the category of farming required.
The AFCOSOL Chief further assured Abia farmers of the reality of this loan, revealing that the flag-off of the 2019 Farming Season gave way for the loan. According to him, during the flag-off ceremony, farmers solicited for funding from financial institutions, since they (the farmers) have the manpower.
He said time has past when loans are given to farmers without them utilizing it, stating farmer’s readiness to go to the farm.
Chief Nwogwugwu,however disclosed that strategies have been put in place to checkmate the disbursement of the loan so that it could get to the real farmers. One of such strategies is the data capturing process that is on-going across the three senatorial zones of AFCOSOL offices in the state and the collection of forms that must be submitted before the 20th of this month.
He advised Abia farmers to take advantage of the opportunity to be self reliant, since the Federal government is doing its best to eradicate unemployment through Agriculture.
Present at the meeting were, Representatives from BOA, CBN, AFCOSOL board members among others.