No fewer than 3, 000 wheat farmers in Kano State had benefitted from the N100 million state government’s agricultural loan.
Alhaji Faruk Rabiu, the state Chairman, Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria (WFAN), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Thursday.
He said the beneficiaries had since collected seeds, fertilizer, pesticide and other inputs to enable them commence planting during this irrigation season.
“Based on the agreement and condition attached to the facility no farmer will be given cash.
“They will only be provided with seeds, fertilizer, pesticides and other inputs to check possible diversion of the money for other purposes,“ he said.
He also said the association had set up three committees to monitor the activities of the farmers in all the 37 irrigation clusters across the state.
According to him, the association finds it necessary to constitute the committees in order to ensure that the farmers utilised whatever items they collected.
He said the first committee was charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the beneficiaries were the real owners of the farms to avoid fraud.
“The second committee was mandated to ensure effective monitoring and report their findings to the third committee for any necessary action,“ he said.
Rabiu said the measure was necessary to ensure that the farmers make the best use of the facility to boost wheat production in the state.
“The purpose of the loan is to boost wheat production that is why no farmer was given money but seeds and other requirements,“ he said.
He urged all those who benefitted from the facility to ensure maximum utilisation to enhance wheat production in the state.
