Why we are yet to apply for FG’s loan – Oil Palm farmers

Oil Palm farmers in Ondo state yesterday said they have not applied for the Federal Government’s N30billion loan and that they are still studying the guidelines.

Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Chairman of National Palm Producers Association, Ondo State chapter, Mr Bolarinwa Adetula said they are still studying the guidelines of the loan to see how they are going to apply.

Adetula said the loan is for beginners according to the guidelines making it difficult for them to take their decision.

” In the meeting we had with them, we asked them what they have for the existing farmers, they said we should go to Anchor Borrowers Programme and in the last two years that we have been going to Anchor Borrowers, we have not been given anything,”.

“We have over 500 members across the state and nobody has applied. In the meeting, we also told them that nine percent interest is too high for a beginner and anything above two percent is not feasible, they promised to call us since then we have not heard from them,” he noted.

While calling on the government to give the loan to smallholder farmers, Adetula said giving the loan to people who are not rightful farmers will amount to colonising the palm industry in the country.

“When they formed the policy, we were not invited, we do not have any input. So they should come to our level. What it takes to clear 10hectares of land in Nasarawa is not the same with Ondo state,” he stressed.

It would be recalled that Federal Government promised to commence the disbursement of a #30 billion loan to oil palm producers in the country.