Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State is walking the talk on the development of agriculture with a purpose to ensure the sustainability of food security and better agricultural practices in the state. He partnered with World Bank Group on the second phase of the Community Revolving Fund of the Agro-climate Resilience in Semi-arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project.
From the fund received from the project the governor has given out the sum of N3 billion to 2,381 direct beneficiaries in over 170 groups from across 80 communities impacted by climate change. Governor Ododo, while presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries, emphasised that the project was part of the developmental initiatives of the state to increase the adoption of sustainable landscape management.
He added that it is designed to strengthen the long-term framework for integrated climate resilience landscape management and effective agricultural practices in the affected communities.
AcreSal’s Kogi state coordinator, Ladi Jatto, in her address, stated that the Community Revolving Fund (CRF) is an interest-free investment fund which began with the first phase of its disbursement in June 2024 with over 2,381 direct beneficiaries. She, therefore, called on beneficiaries to make the best use of the fund, adding that the fund is a loan from the World Bank under guaranteed repayment by the state government. The state Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management, Joseph Oluwasegun, stated that the Community Revolving Fund seeks to place Kogi on the map of states where food security and sufficiency are guaranteed in Nigeria.
Finally, Governor Ododo advised beneficiaries to be judicious with the funds in order for other communities in the state to benefit from the project.