5000 Imo farmers to get N3m CBN/NALDA revolving loans

The Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Paul Ikonne, has disclosed that about 5000 farmers in Imo State will each benefit from the N3 million revolving loan provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria, in partnership with the agency.

He also explained that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the empowerment of 1000 Imo women in cassava production and the establishment of three cassava production centres in the state.

He said the president approved the rehabilitation of the Songhai Redemption Farm, located in Nekede, Owerri, Imo State.

Ikonne, who said this at the commissioning of an integrated farm at Achara-Ubo Emekuku area of the state, said the aim of the revolving loan was to assist the farmers to sustain farming as the aim of the government was to create jobs for the youth and women.

He pointed out that the Achara-Ubo Integrated Farm, in Owerri North Local Government Area, sits on 35 hectares of arable land, with six poultry houses and 18 pens that contain about 10,000 birds; three goat houses with 196 goats and 3 pig farms containing 108 pigs. 

It also boasts of three solar boreholes, access roads and drainage and solar-powered street lights on the farm.

Similarly, NALDA’s Project Coordinator, Imo State, Emeka Ugwunali, expressed hope that the project would help the host community and beneficiaries and improve their well-being.