Ogun state government provides empowerment opportunities to disengaged N-Power volunteers

The Ogun State government has provided alternative for the disengaged N-Power volunteers, opening another windows of opportunities for them to become entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector.

Penpushing reports that, the Chief Press Secretary to the Goverrnor, Kunle Somorin in a statement on Monday said this was in response to the plight of the disengaged volunteers, explaining  that various agricultural intervention programmes, which the disengaged volunteers could participate in are particularly designed to encourage start-up agric-businesses and promote up-scaliing of smallholders’ farmers.

The release listed some of the programmes to include Anchor Borrowers’, a Federal government initiative to create economic linkage between small farmers and agro processors, where single digit loans are given to farmers through Participating Finance Institutions.

Penpushing further reports that, other programmes are Central Bank of Nigeria Cocoa Development Initiative, where the State provide land, aggregate and train young farmers to willing young farmer, Oil Palm Intervention Programme, where youths are provided 5hectares per person for Oil Palm cultivation, maintenance and processing facilities at single digit loans interest.

The release further enumerated other programmes as the Fertilizer Intervention, where farmers are given two bags of fertilizer at a subsidized price, Planting Materials Palliatives, where the State government support farmers with free improved planting materials, Ogun State Economic Transformation Programme (OGSTEP),  GIZ Tomato/Chilli Pepper, Ogun State Broiler Project and the Agric-Business/Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS).

Penpushing also reports that, the statement added that apart from the above, the State Ministry of Agriculture also provides Supplementary Extension Service and Agro-Input delivery to support farmers activities in the State.

The release enjoined interested N-Power beneficiaries to report to the Ogun State N-Power State Office, Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Government Affairs, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta to register their interest, beginning from Monday 3rd to Friday 28th of August, 2020, between 9.00 am and 2pm.