Mohammed Shosanya
The Oyo state government has said it will commence disbursement of N 340. 270 million to eligible crop farmers across the seven zones of the state as from Friday, February 9, 2024.
This is in addition to a sum of N416.850m recently disbursed to 1,407 farmers across the state in the third batch of the programme.
The state government had provided a sum of N1billion under the
Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery ( SAfER) initiative of the state government to support farmers in the state to cushion the effects of subsidy removal by the federal government.
Addressing newsmen on the progress of the SAfER programme at the Press Centre of the Governor’s Office on Thursday, the Chairman, Agric Credit Corporation of Oyo State,(ACCOS), Sheikh Taofeek Akeugbagold, explained that project has been non-partisan as it is available for the generality of legitimate farmers and would-be farmers of the state including the youths that were trained by the State Government under the YEAP programme.
He said, in view of the present economic hardship being experienced by the citizenry of the state, the Corporation has been given a marching order to better the lots of the peasants most importantly in the area of agriculture.
He gave a breakdown of the how funds were disbursed with reference to the categorization of the state into seven(7) major zones.
According to him, in Ibadan Zone I which is supervised by the Bank of Agriculture, Ibadan, a total number 547 beneficiaries have been disbursed with a sum of N156.75Om, while Ibadan Zone II undertaken by Onibuore Microfinance Bank has disbursed the sum of N118.950m to 401 beneficiaries.
“However, in Oyo Zone undertaken by the Bank of Agriculture, Oyo, a total number of 171 beneficiaries have collected the sum of N50,700m while Ogbomoso Zone handled by Randalpha Microfinance Bank disbursed the sum of N29.250m to 84 beneficiaries.
“Also Oke Ogun Zone 1 handled by Ifedapo Microfinance Bank, Saki, disbursed a total sum of N26.230m to 79 beneficiaries while Oke Ogun Zone 2 supervised by Bank of Agriculture Iseyin disbursed the sum of N30.800m to 110 beneficiaries and Ibarapa Zone undertaken by Igboora Microfinance Bank disbursed the sum of N4.050m to 15 beneficiaries.”
“This makes the total sum of N416.85Om disbursed to 1,407 farmers,” he said.
Besides, Akeugbagold also gave the breakdown of how funds for the 4th batch will be disbursed across the various zones as from tomorrow Friday 9th February, 2024 as follows:
“Ibadan I :To be undertaken by Bank of Agriculture, Ibadan.75.950m for 269 beneficiaries.Ibadan II: Represented by Onibuore
Microfinance Bank ,N132.250m for 474 beneficiaries.”
“Oyo: Bank of Agriculture, Oyo N24.50m for 87 beneficiaries.Oke-Ogun I:Ifedapo beneficiaries
Microfinance ,N 26.270 m for 93 beneficiaries.
“Oke-Ogun II:Bank of Agriculture, Iseyin. N13.450m for 53 beneficiaries.Ogbomoso: Randalpha Microfinance Bank N44.200m for 159 beneficiaries.Ibarapa: lgboora Microfinance Bank N23.650m for 92 beneficiaries.”
Assuring that real farmers that missed out from all the batches that have been previously considered will be taken care of once the payment is coming forth, he also implored fresh graduates who are interested in agricultural practices to approach the corporation to access fund.
He admonished all the beneficiaries to complement the effort of the government by being faithful with the funds they obtained and to reciprocate the kind gesture of the government by paying back the fund by the due date such that others could benefit from it as a revolving fund.