30 Osun Cocoa farmers get N5m grants from Micro-credit agency

The Osun Micro-Credit Agency on Wednesday granted N5 million loan to 30 Cocoa farmers in the state.

Mr Bayo Babaranti, the General Manager of the Agency, while distributing the cheques to the beneficiaries in Osogbo, said that the loan was aimed at boosting Cocoa production in the state.

Babaranti said that the loan was also part of the fulfilment of Gov. Gboyega Oyetola’s electioneering promises to support farmers and promote agriculture.

He said the agency was determined to support economy of the state, adding that it was ready to revive micro, small and medium-scaled enterprises.

“We are here today to distribute cheques for N5 million loan to 30 individual Cocoa farmers in the four major Cocoa growing councils in the state namely: Ilesa West, Ilesa East, Atakunmosa West and Atakumosa East respectively.

“This support is given to farmers for them to purchase chemicals and other things they need to spray and prevent their Cocoa from infections that usually affect their produce.

“So, with this little support, our farmers can have access to some of the farm inputs to support their activities and increase their production,” he said.

Babaranti, however, admonished the beneficiaries not to see the fund as free money, but as a support to advance their productions.

He further implored the beneficiaries to use the fund judiciously and apply it on what it was meant for.

Responding, Mr Ajibade Moshood, the Chairman of Agbewumi Cocoa Group, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, commended the commitment of the state government to revamp agriculture.

Moshood, while assuring of the timely repayment of the loan, said, “We shall use the fund for the purpose it was meant for”. (NAN)