Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, on Wednesday disbursed a N370 million community revolving fund (CRF) to farmers, aiming to boost food production in the North-Central region. This initiative is part of a partnership with the World Bank under the ACReSAL project.
In the pilot phase of the CRF loan disbursement, 208 farmers across 10 clusters in two catchment areas benefited from the fund. Each cluster received $25,000 (approximately N37 million), totaling $250,000 (around N370 million). The 208 beneficiaries, 70 percent of whom are women, each received N1.77 million.
Governor Ododo inaugurated the disbursement at the Government House in Lokoja, highlighting the scheme as a proactive measure to address climate change challenges and support community agricultural efforts. He announced that the second phase of the CRF loan disbursement would commence in August.
Ododo expressed his gratitude to the stakeholders involved in the project and reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to agricultural development. He noted that within his five months in office, various initiatives had been implemented to enhance agricultural productivity. These initiatives include the provision of agricultural machinery for mechanization, agricultural inputs, and training and capacity building for farmers.
Earlier, the Speaker of the Kogi House of Assembly, Umar Yusuf, emphasized the importance of partnership for progress, as highlighted in the 17 thematic areas of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He commended Governor Ododo for his leadership and commitment to the development of the state.
