NAOC-GRP Disburses N23.1m To Farmers Cooperatives

The Vice Chairman/
Managing Director, Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Engr Massimo Insulla, has stated that a total sum of N23.1 million has been disbursed to 40 farmers cooperative societies and other
Small Scale Entrepreneurs across the host communities in Imo, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States.
Engr Insulla who stated this last Saturday during the NAOC-Green River Project (GRP) farmers’ Day celebration at Obie in Ogba/EgbemaNdoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, said the micro-credit scheme tagged, “The Green Card” was designed to boost the agricultural productivity of the beneficiaries.
He commended the Green card beneficiaries for keeping to the terms of the scheme by paying back about 80 percent of the disbursed funds.
The vice chairman pointed out that the farmers day celebration is an annual event organized to bring together individual farmers, farmers cooperative societies, youth cooperatives and other agricultural  organizations to showcase bumper harvest, interact with one another and share ideas that will further enhance their income earning potentials.
According to him, Green River Project has reached out to over 2,500 farmers and had assisted farmers with updated techniques and appropriate technologies towards improved agricultural productivity, as well as distribution of improved varieties of planting materials to farmers.
In his address read by NAOC Public Affairs Division Manager, Engr Dieneiruo Dan-Jumbo, the General Manager, District, Paolo Carnevale, said that the NAOC-GRP has assisted farmers with improved seedlings, agro-allied materials, and agricultural extension services with a view to achieve poverty reduction and improve the standard of living of the host communities.
The chairman of the occasion, Barr. Bassey Dan-Abia who is also the Managing Director/CEO Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), commended NAOC for enhancing farming business in the region.
He charged government institutions and the private sector to rise to the challenge posed by food security in the country and in line with the realities of the Growth Enhancement Programmes (GEPs).
The NDDC boss noted that NDDC on its part has trained about 14,000 farmers in various agricultural skills, poultry production among others.