Katsinatimes
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has launched the FarmerMoni enumeration exercise and training for Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) desk officers to expand smallholder farmers’ access to interest-free loans.
The exercise, held at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Katsina, on Thursday, is being implemented in collaboration with the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA).
Speaking at the event, Radda said his administration was committed to improving agricultural productivity, empowering young people and creating opportunities for entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector.
He highlighted the state government’s investments in agricultural training, fertiliser distribution, mechanisation and irrigation facilities, saying the interventions were aimed at improving farmers’ productivity and strengthening food security.
The governor commended the state GEEP management team and the national programme managers for their collaboration, while acknowledging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s support for the initiative.
Earlier, the National GEEP Programme Manager, Dr Hamza Ibrahim Baba, said FarmerMoni was the agricultural component of GEEP, designed to provide eligible smallholder farmers with interest-free, collateral-free loans of up to ₦300,000.
He clarified that the facility was a loan, not a grant, adding that repayment would enable other farmers to benefit from the revolving scheme.
According to Baba, repayment is expected to begin six to nine months after disbursement, in line with the programme’s guidelines.
He said the enumeration exercise would improve data collection, identify eligible beneficiaries and promote transparency in the distribution of the loans.
Baba warned desk officers against demanding money from applicants for registration or selection, stressing that participation in the programme must be guided by integrity and accountability.
He directed the officers to register only genuine and eligible farmers, verify their details and ensure accurate data entry.
The programme manager also urged beneficiaries to use the loans strictly for agricultural activities and repay them as required to sustain the scheme.
The State GEEP Manager, Hajiya Karima, commended the state government and the national programme management for supporting economic empowerment initiatives.
She said the state government’s Building Your Future Agenda reflected its commitment to entrepreneurship, agricultural development and human capital development.
Karima urged the trained desk officers to perform their duties professionally, provide accurate information and ensure that the programme reached its intended beneficiaries.
Those at the event included the Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Garba Faskari; Chief of Staff, Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir; Principal Private Secretary, Abdullahi Aliyu Turaji; members of the state executive council; NSIPA representatives; agricultural stakeholders; and GEEP officials.
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