IFAD Trains Financial Institutions on Methods of Issuing Credit to Taraba Farmers | Tellwell Newspaper
From Godwin Agia, Jalingo 
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has organised a 3-day training for financial institutions in Taraba State on easy methods of issuing agricultural credit facility to farmers covered by it in the state.
The training was conducted under the global agency’s Value Chain Development programme (VCDP).
Mr Irimiya Musa, the State Programme Coordinator (SPC), noted that the training became imperative due to the difficulty faced by rural farmers in accessing credit for their agribusiness.
“Most of our farmers find it difficult to work with financial institutions to access credit facility from them to boost their farm business,” he complained, explaining, “Some of them do not even know how to open bank accounts; so the training will enable them fill the gaps and access the right credit facility without hidden charges to expand their farms.”
The programme coordinator said, “We want our farmers to be financially inclusive to enhance greater productivity and food security.”
Musa said VCDP had a Memorandum of Understanding with the financial institutions, saying collaboration would be a win win situation for both the institutions and farmers because both were trained to be honest and faithful in keeping to terms of agreement.
He commended Governor Darius Ishaku for the practical demonstration of passion for agriculture by prompt and consistent payment of counterpart funds for VCDP and other programmes.
Mr Jubli Makka, a Consultant to VCDP on Flnancial inclusion, told the participants that the training was meant to enhance their understanding of how financial services can effectively assist development of agricultural value chain.
Makka noted that the overall aims of the programme were to ensure food security and also to make agriculture a major contributor to the nation’s economic growth.
