Oyo Assembly approves Makinde’s N2b loan request to develop Agric sector

The Oyo State House of Assembly on Tuesday approved a N2 billion loan request by the Seyi Makinde led administration.

The loan facility is being sought for the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development which is part of the plan of the state Government to develop the Agricultural sector.

Governor Seyi Makinde which had earlier forwarded a letter forwarded to the state Assembly and read on the floor said the loan will be collected from Fidelity Bank under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP), an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the Agricultural sector.

Makinde in the letter hinted that the proposed loan facility would be used to fund cluster farming for maize, cassava, rice and tomatoes while about six thousand youth are expected to participate in the Anchor Borrowers Program.

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The letter read in part ” The participants will be categorized under micro enterprise of the State agricultural program with the expectation that they will develop into small and medium enterprises in synergy with the Oyo State Agricultural Development Agency, OYSADA.”

But at plenary, Deputy Speaker, Muhammad Fadeyi and other lawmakers agreed that the Anchor Borrowers Program if well implemented would assist in engaging the youth across the State and will ultimately assist in reducing the high level of unemployment in the country.

The Speaker , Adebo Ogundoyin said that the Anchor Borrowers Program was coming at the right time adding that many youth who are interested in Agriculture do not have the financial wherewithal to go into full practice.

Ogundoyin commended the resolve of Governor Makinde to improve the Agriculture sector as well as encourage youth participation in farming and Agricultural related activities.

The House thereafter directed its Committees on Agriculture and Natural Resources as well as Public Account, Finance and Appropriation to perform thorough oversight functions in order to ensure full implementation of the Anchor Borrowers Program so as to achieve the desired results.