The Nigeria-Agro Cooperatives Society (NACS) has commended Edo State governor Senator Monday Okpebholo for his initiative to provide interest-free loans to traders across the state. It urged the governor to include farmers in this empowerment scheme, as their role in driving economic growth, ensuring food security, and creating jobs cannot be overlooked.
The cooperative’s national chairman, Simpa Afadama stated this in a statement released to journalists in Benin City where he said excluding farmers from such a significant programme would leave a critical gap in the state’s development plan.
His words, “Farmers are the lifeblood of any economy, and Edo State is no exception. While we commend Governor Okpebholo for his visionary initiative to support traders, we believe extending this program to farmers is not only essential but urgent. Farmers produce the food we eat, sustain our local economy, and provide livelihoods for countless families. Neglecting them in this scheme could undermine our collective progress.
“Edo State has immense potential to become the food basket of Nigeria,” he added. “If farmers are empowered financially, we can increase food production, stabilize prices, and even reduce reliance on imports. This would not only boost our economy but also directly impact the wellbeing of the masses by ensuring food availability and affordability.”
The cooperative also highlighted the ripple effects of empowering farmers, adding that it would create jobs for the state’s teeming youth population, stimulate rural development, and strengthen agro-allied industries.
“There is a synergy between agriculture and every other sector of the economy,” Mr. Simpa said. “When farmers thrive, markets thrive. When markets thrive, industries grow. By supporting farmers, Governor Okpebholo would be addressing the root of economic challenges, rather than merely the symptoms.
“We therefore call on the government to adopt a holistic approach by integrating farmers into the interest-free loan scheme alongside traders. We want to propose a tiered system that caters to the unique needs of both sectors, ensuring equitable access to financial resources”, he said.
