The Oyo state government under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde, has listed criteria for farmers who wish to access the 1 billion Naira loan facility in the state, as he promised that the government will guard against giving the loans out to some people who are just farmers on paper.
Speaking through the chairman, of Oyo State Agricultural Credit Corporation of Oyo State, (ACCOS), Sheik Taofik Akeugbagold, said the conditions are necessary to ensure geographical spread.
Akeugbagold made the revelation during a sensitization tour to the 7 geopolitical zones in the State which ended today.
The Muslim cleric said, that to access the N1b single-digit interest loan under the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) sub-committee, an applicant must be a duly recognized farmer.
While expatiating further on the conditions for the disbursement at Oke Ogun Zone 1, Iseyin area, Sheik Akeugbagold, revealed that the reason for the tour was to interact with and identify genuine farmers in the state.
He stressed that the corporation will guard against giving loans to ‘farmers on paper’, saying this would ensure that the targeted farmers benefit from the gesture.
The Chairman explained that after the sensitization exercise, application forms could be obtained at each Local Government Council at the office of the Director of Agriculture.
He added that the ACCOS Field Officers and the identified banks in each domain will be involved in the process.
Speaking on the conditions for qualification, the Chairman said the form can only be collected individually free of charge.
He stressed that social media or the Internet is not a sales point, adding that no official of the Board or the Ministry of Agriculture will liaise with residents from the Internet.
While listing the conditions required, Akeugbagold said an applicant will need a Civil Servant, from Grade level 07 and above as guarantor, depending on the amount of loan requested.
According to him, “We are moving around the 7 zones of the State to sensitize farmers on the need and where to access the #1b loan under the SAfER Sub-committee of food security.
“The forms would be out after the sensitization tour and they will be available for collection free of charge through the directors of Agric in their various councils, the severed banks, and ACCOS as the form is not online.
