Jubilation among Ebonyi farmers, as Gov Umahi sets to Grant loan for livestock investors

By Chijioke Njoku

Ebonyi state government in collaboration with the central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing system for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), has commenced a training program to accommodate both existing and intending livestock farmers in the state.

The program which was initiated by the Deputy Chief of staff, Chief Okechukwu Nwakpu, is aimed at projecting livestock production in Ebonyi state, to further manifest the governor’s zero oil economy initiative.

Addressing journalists shortly after the program at Akanu Ibiam International Conference Center in Abakaliki, the state capital, Chief Nwakpu who is also the facilitator of the Anchor program and value chain program in Ebonyi explained that the said program was attended by over five hundred participants.

According to Chief Nwakpu, the  program is designed to aid the shift in oil dependency in the state, as well as create more job opportunities, adding, “the campaign is to be extended to the grassroots in other to reach out to a large number of Ebonyians with the zeal to access funds to do livestock production.

” We are going to visit all the local governments in the state, to visit all the farmers  in their various localities, to see the farms because we are not dealing with political farmers, we are not dealing with people who are farmers on the street,

“We want to deal directly with the farmers as directed by His Excellency the governor. He said

“We are going to visit them to ensure that they are really into the business, we don’t want to collect money from the bank to do a different thing other than what we have”

Furthermore, he pointed out that governor Umahi had made the initiative to benefit real farmers in the state, saying, “having created both an enabling environment as well as well a befitting market for business to thrive in the state and everyone shall benefit from the program.

He, therefore, urged interested citizens awhi also have necessary facilities to key into the golden opportunity, reiterating, “If you are interested in any of the commodities and you have the facilities such as the accommodation, you can key into the program whether fishery, poultry or piggery, what we cannot do is to borrow money from the bank and start building structures for individuals, but for those eager to go out into the business, who already have a structure or are willing to use thier resources to build the structure, we would provide an enabling market for them.

This condition is in line with the terms given to the state government by the central bank of Nigeria”, he maintained.

Meanwhile, the Senior special assistant to the governor on livestock production, Barr. B Johnson Nwali and the Special assistant to the governor on industrial cluster Ebonyi central, Chief Edwin Okah , who are also desk officers in the project used the medium to laud governor Umahi for creating an initiative which, according to them, “is targeted at boosting the economy of the state”.

Also, the duo commended David Umahi for creating an enabling market for businesses to thrive in the state, while expressing satisfaction with initiative as a welcome development.