Only farmers with certification from AFAN will access funds, says chairman


 The Lagos State chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has  said that
access to agriculture funds would be granted to only those farmers who were certified by the Association.
The AFAN Chairman, Chief Femi Oke, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Oke, who said that funds meant for farmers were usually routed through commercial banks for proper monitoring of the process, added that the Association was also a duly recognised entity.
He added that ``we are saying that even AFAN is recognised because there is no farmer that will access funds now without passing through AFAN in Lagos State.
``AFAN has been given the mandate to certify farmers and letters of certification will be given to such farmers in order to easily identify them and to help them to access the funds.
``However, commercial banks are expected to keep track of the funds and to ensure the repayment plan.
``Considering peoples' readiness to pay back loans, we felt it should come through the commercial banks.''
The chairman condemned the request by commercial banks that farmers must provide collateral to access funds,
saying it would be difficult for farmers to fulfill the request because most of them do not own property.

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