Kano State government has launched the N1 billion interest-free Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) with a view to empower over 4,000 farmers in the state.
Launching the scheme in Kano recently, Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, disclosed that the agricultural loans were part of efforts to revitalise agriculture, empower farmers and ensure food security for all in the state.
He hinted that the scheme was informed by the need to deploy agriculture to combat the present economic recession.
He said it would also provide an opportunity for the farmers to boost their harvests even as he added that a workshop component has been attached to the disbursement to help train the beneficiaries on the utilisation of the loan.
Ganduje cautioned the beneficiaries to put the loans to the intended purpose as he noted that the loans must be repaid at the duration of the facility.
He also disclosed that a special mobile court had been constituted to pursue and legally sanction all the defaulting beneficiaries.
He also explained that he had re-equipped Kano Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO) so as to expand its capacity to produce quality fertiliser that can be sold at affordable prices to farmers, adding that the state government received a contract to supply 200 trucks of fertiliser to Kebbi State government.
“We have been receiving requests from other states to produce the fertiliser for them but we declined because our fertiliser is meant for the use of Kano farmers,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, the representative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Alhaji AbdulKadir, said the loans were meant to be re-paid in two years time from the time of receipt.
He, however, hinted that it would be wise for those who benefitted from the facility to start paying back within the first six months to make the subsequent payment easier.
