Sixteen farmers in the state have received soft loan from Anambra state government to support their various livestock farms.
The farmers received the loan during the opening ceremony of a four day training workshop organized for Rural Finance Institution Building Programme, RUFIN, groups on business and Entrepreneurship skill development by the state government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanization, Processing, and Export.
The Rural Finance Institution Building Programme, RUFIN, is one of the programmes instituted by the state Governor , Gov. Willie Obiano led administration to assist farmers in the state especially those at the hinterlands to boost agro production and ensure food sufficiency in the state.
Farmers participating in the ongoing four day training were drawn from Awka North and South, Anambra East and West, Orumba North and South, Aniocha, and Ayamelum Local Government Areas.
Addressing the farmers, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mechanization, Processing, and Export, Mr Nnamdi Onukwuba, encouraged them to utilize the opportunity given to them by the state government to be trained and equipped to become better farmers by paying attention to all details on their businesses during the programme.
Also speaking, the Project Coordinator Rural Finance Finance Institution Building Programme, Mrs Uzoamaka Emeagwali, said the beneficiaries of the loan had been earlier trained on how to utilize the money and pay back in due time and disclosed that the officers in charge of the programme will closely monitor the farmers to make sure they judiciously put the money to use.
In their various remarks, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Arthur Iweanya, and Special Assistant to Governor Obiano on Agriculture, Mr Paul Ofozor, noted that present administration is committed towards assisting Anambra farmers to actualise food sufficiency.
Speaking to journalist shortly after receiving cheques for the loan, some of the beneficiaries, including Mr Augustine Udefi and Mrs Veronica Obidimma from Amanuke in Awka North Council Area, thanked Governor Obiano for the loan and promised to use it judiciously and pay back accordingly.
The beneficiaries received cheques for the loan ranging from one hundred thousand naira to two hundred and fifty thousand naira.
