The governor of Oyo, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday approved the release of one billion naira as a grant to farmers in the state under the Sustainable Actions for Economic Recovery (SAFER) Programme.

The chairman of the Agricultural Credit Corporation of Oyo State (ACCOS), Sheikh Taofeek Akeugbagold, disclosed this with the grant as part of Governor Makinde’s efforts to improve food security in Oyo.

Akeugbagold said during a press conference at the Film Theater of the Oyo State Ministry of Information, Secretariat, Ibadan, that the grant will be disbursed to the farmers in all the 33 local government areas of the state.

Akeugbagold further stated that ACCOS has divided the whole of Oyo State into seven zones for ease of administration in disbursing the grant to the farmers.

According to him, the Agricultural Credit Corporation has mapped out plans to begin a sensitisation campaign in all the zones.

The chairman of ACCOS further said the method that will be adopted in disbursing the grant will be unveiled at subsequent town hall meetings.

He also pointed out that the meetings with the farmers will take place across the highlighted zones in the state.

“The project will be fair and transparent and non-partisan, as it shall be for the generality of legitimate farmers of Oyo State,” he said.

“Let me also emphasise that the exercise shall be in phases, as all areas of agriculture such as crop, fishery, livestock, piggery, etc. shall be captured and fully integrated into the programme.

“The programme is an intervention programme and for ease of disbursement and to make sure that all zones are touched, micro-finance banks will be used for disbursement.

“The list of the successful micro-finance banks will be made public at or before the town hall meetings.”