Grain traders seek participation in agric loan scheme

Farm produce traders in Mubi,Adamawa State, have urged the Federal Government to review conditions for the implementation of the agricultural loan scheme to enable them access the facility.The plea followed the Federal Government's N200 billion loan, aimed at encouraging agricultural productivity and enhancing farmers' entrepreneurial productivity and skills.Alhaji Buba Liman, the Chairman, Farm Produce Dealers Association, told newsmen in Mubi that the review of the facility would also promote participation and encourage agro-processing activities at the grass roots.Liman said that farm produce traders were not accessing the facility, as well as similar facilities from commercial banks because of their low capital base.The chairman stressed the need to allow farmers to access the facility in view of their contributions to the development of agriculture in the country.'It is desirable to review terms and conditions to enable us benefit from the facility,' Liman said.He appealed to the council to rehabilitate roads leading to the Mubi Grain Market to provide conducive trading environment for the people.According to him, the association has spent more than N400, 000 on the construction of drainage to control flooding in the market, adding that the association had also started the sensitisation of traders on storage techniques to boost their produce.
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