The Kwara State government has earmarked the sum of N1.5 billion for micro credit scheme to support farmers and Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the state.

While the sum of N750 million has been budgeted for the micro credit scheme for farmers, another N750 million was earmarked for SMEs.

The State governor, Alh. AbdulFatah Ahmed disclosed government's plan to assist the farmers with the micro credit scheme at the roll-out of the federal government Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) and the E-wallet scheme held at Oke-oyi, the headquarters of Ilorin East local Government Area of the state.

The state commissioner for commerce and cooperatives, Alh. Saka Onimago broke the cheering news on the plan to assist SMEs with the N750 million loan scheme.

Governor Ahmed said the initiative was in furtherance of government's commitment to ensuring food security and creating agro-allied jobs and wealth.

"The administration would also strengthen agriculture value chain in the state through the establishment of agriculture Malls in the three senatorial districts to serve as one-stop-shops for farm input, equipment, financial and extension services to farmers across the state", he said.

While commending the E-wallet initiative of the federal government, the governor said the scheme would guarantee access to inputs such as fertilizer and improved seedlings to farmers in the state.

He reassured Kwarans that the state agriculture master plan (KAMP) which was launched in New York, would reposition the state as agriculture hub in the sub- region and sustain food security for the people.   

The governor, represented by the deputy governor, Elder Peter Kisra, pledged his administration's commitment to the success of the Federal Government agricultural transformation agenda and the E-wallet scheme, adding that his government has put in place enabling environment for farmers to profitably engage in advanced and improved agriculture practice.

In his address, the special guest of honour at the event, the minister of agriculture and rural development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, represented by the regional director, North Central zone of the ministry, Sunday Edibo, stressed that the focus of the government was to turn the nation into major exporter of food rather than importer of food.

Adesina re-affirmed that the country has corporate advantage to be a major producer of food in the world and that the present government would lay greater emphasis on food security and job creation for the youths through agriculture.

He said the distribution of fertilizer had been decentralised and the agro dealers have been involved to ensure that the product got to the end users, while appealing to farmers to take advantage of improved seedlings now available to achieve bumper harvest.           

Also, the state commissioner for agriculture and natural resources, Alhaji Isa Baba Kpan, said the state government has put in place machinery to maximise the benefit of the scheme in the state.

On the government's plan to encourage SMEs in the state, the commissioner for commerce and cooperatives, Alh. Saka Onimago told LEADERSHIP SUNDAY that the government would soon obtain N750 million loan from the Bank of industry to promote and encourage small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in the state.

Alh. Onimago disclosed this in Ilorin, the state capital while briefing newsmen on the activities of his ministry in the last one year.
He said the state governor, Alh. AbdulFatah Ahmed has given his ministry the approval to obtain the loan.

Onimago further disclosed that the governor has released N250 million for disbursement to co-operative societies in the state as revolving loans.

He said that 147 co-operative societies have so far benefited from the loan scheme while 10 micro-finance banks were accredited for the loan disbursement to ensure probity and transparency.