As part of its Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) initiative to cushion the effect of economic hardship on residents of the state, the Oyo State government has given out N460million loan to farmers in the state to grow their farming businesses.
The sum is part of the N1billion promised by the state governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, to ensure food security in the state, following the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol.
This was as the state government has given out 24,000 bags of 50kg maize to 2,000 poultry farmers and also fish feeds to 1,000 fish farmers.
The gestures by the Governor Makinde-led administration was in line with ensuring food security in the state, being one of the key components of the SAfER initiative.
The loans, made available to farmers from all parts of the state, were routed through several banks including Bank of Agriculture, Ibadan Branch and Bank of Agriculture, Iseyin Branch.
Other banks included Bank of Agriculture, Oyo Branch; Onibu-Ore Microfinance Bank, Ibadan; Ifedapo Microfinance Bank, Saki; Igboora Microfinance Bank, Igboora and Randalpha Microfinance Bank, Ogbomoso.
Speaking about the single-digit loans to farmers, Chairman of SAfER Committee, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi, assured that the second phase, which would witness the disbursement of N550million to different categories of farmers, would soon commence.
Ogunwuyi, who is also the Chief of staff (CoS) to the Governor, charged the beneficiaries to make the most of the opportunity to ensure food security in Oyo State.
The chairman of SAfER also gave the assurance that the state government would continue to support farmers across the state.
Ogunwuyi said the loans are available to all farmers in the state, irrespective of their religious beliefs or political leanings.
“No farmer needs to know anyone in government to access the loans. All anyone who is interested in the loan has to do is to obtain the form from one of the banks, fill it and return it to the bank.
“The bank will carry out their assessment and provide the loan for any farmer who satisfies the requirements,” he stated.
The state government had, through the SAfER initiative, also given out 24,000 bags of 50kg maize to 2,000 poultry farmers, just as it distributed fish feeds to 1,000 farmers.
Below are the list of the 1, 407 beneficiary farmers in the state given the N460million loan, as part of the SAfER initiative, to grow their farming businesses:
