The Federal Government, in partnership with the Niger State Government and the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), is set to provide interest-free loans of N300,000 each to 600 farmers in Niger State.

The loans are being provided under the Federal Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP).

The National Programme Manager of GEEP, Hamza Baba, disclosed this on Saturday in Minna during the commencement of the FarmerMoni enumeration exercise and a training programme for GEEP desk officers drawn from the 25 local government areas of the state.

Baba explained that the initiative was designed to assist small-scale farmers in purchasing agricultural inputs, boosting productivity and increasing agricultural output in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He stated that the trained desk officers would be responsible for identifying, registering and verifying qualified farmers involved in crop production, poultry, livestock farming, fishery and aquaculture across the state.

According to him, the registration process would involve the digital collection of farmers’ photographs, biometric information, National Identification Numbers (NIN) and farm locations to establish their identities and verify their farming activities.

Baba further disclosed that each successful applicant would receive N300,000, which must be repaid within one year. However, beneficiaries would be given a six-month grace period after commencing their farming activities before repayment begins.

He added that the agency would work with the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) and local government desk officers to monitor how the funds are utilised and ensure beneficiaries fulfil their repayment obligations.

Meanwhile, the Niger State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Dr Ibrahim Inga, described the initiative as a complementary federal government intervention aimed at strengthening the state’s poverty reduction programmes.

Inga said the involvement of relevant stakeholders would promote transparency, proper verification and the selection of genuine farmers who meet the requirements for the intervention.

Similarly, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Social Investment Programme, Mrs Hauwa Mohammed, said the exercise formed part of the state’s implementation of GEEP, which comprises three intervention schemes: FarmerMoni, MarketMoni and TraderMoni.

Mohammed disclosed that the desk officers had been equipped with tablets to digitally register farmers and capture details of their farmlands.

She explained that the digital registration system would help eliminate fictitious applicants and ensure that the financial support reaches genuine farmers across the state.