Farmers in Odokpe Community in Anambra State have expressed disgust at the alleged government’s lack of interest to support farmers in the area, alleging that they were being sidelined in the disbursement of agricultural loans in the state.
Mr. Simon Odogwuocha, the former APGA Ward Chairman of Odokpe, expressed the feeling of the farmers in an interview. He said since the time of former Governor Peter Obi Odokpe farmers had been allegedly sidelined from benefiting from agricultural loans meant for farmers in Anambra.
He said farmers in Odokpe did not benefit from FADAMA 11 and FADAMA 111 Agricultural loans in the state.
Odogwuocha disclosed that some people, said to be officers working for the Ministry of Agriculture, often visit the farmers, took down their names for the loans.
He lamented that after taking the names, the officers never came back and never contacted them to offer them the loans, adding that all they heard each time after, on the radio, was that farmers had been granted loans in the state.
The former APGA ward chair, who described Odokpe as a rich agricultural land, urged Governor Charles Soludo to investigate the matter with the view of ameliorating the situation.
He said, “I know what I am saying. Since the time of Peter Obi, we have never received any loans meant for farmers in Anambra. Some people come from Awka every time. They come with notes bearing the state government logo and get our names for the loans. But that is where it ends. They never come back to offer us the loans.”
Odogwuocha, therefore, pleaded with the administration of Governor Charles Soludo to redress the anomaly. Hear him: “We beg Governor Soludo to look into the matter. We are farmers.”
