1,300 youths, women to secure CBN loan, says Okowa

Delta State Government has assured of securing Central Bank of Nigeria’s agricultural loans for over 1,300 youths and women farmers, to boost the production of essential cooking ingredients, such as Tomato, Telfairia, and others with nutritional values.

This was disclosed by the Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, at a training, held at the National Horticulture Research Institute (NIHORT) in collaboration with Ossai Nicholas Ossai, a member representing Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency for youths and women for the production of Tomato,Telfairia (Ugu) and others.

Speaking at the end of the weeklong training, in Kwale, Ndokwa West Council of the state, Okowa said the state would assist the farmers with the loan to make the state number one in the production of the crops in the country.

Represented by Timothy Umukoro, the governor urged the participants to pay critical attention to all sessions in order to make the best use of the golden opportunity.

Executive Director of NIHORT, Dr. Abayomi Olaniyan said tomato is one of the important and major vegetables grown in Nigeria.

“Tomato is an essential cooking ingredient in the country, a valuable raw material in processed products such as juice, puree, paste, ketchup/sause, dry slices, powder and canned or bottle whole.

“It is widely cultivated due to the economic and nutritional importance of the crop. It is a profitable horticultural crop that provides income to farmers and agents involved in its production and marketing.”