Group Seeks Adesina’s Intervention On Cassava Bread Grants

A group, the Delta
Youths for Agriculture (DYFA), has accaused the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) and the Ministry of Agriculture of frustrating potential beneficiaries of Cassava Bread out-grower Intervention Fund from accessing the facility.
The co-ordinator of the group, Mr Lucky Aruoture, made the allegation at a seminar organized recently by the group in Warri, Delta State.
Aruoture explained that the Bank refused to release the fund approved for Jopat Nigeria Limited under the Cassava Bread out-grower fund even when the potential beneficiaries had fulfilled necessary conditions.
The group co-ordinator called on the former Minister of Agriculture, and new President of the Africa Development Bank AfDB), Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, to intervene in the stalemate over the fund, to avoid further frustration of the noble dreams of young Nigerians on Agriculture.
He said the needed conditions spelt out for accessing the fund in January 2014 included payment of N5,000 per hectare and a minimum of two hectares, and a maximum of four hectares per accredited beneficiary.
“The payment of N20,000 for four hectares as equity contribution to access the loan/grant, land preparation and all other conditions have been met”, he said.
Aruoture further stated that all approved beneficiaries in his group had received SMS alerts confirming approval since September 2014 and wondered why the bank and the ministry of aAgriculture have not released the funds.
He regretted that at a period when Federal Government’s emphasis was anchored on diversification of economy especially on agriculture, attitude of the bank and the ministry should be encouraging to interested and intending farmers in the country.