The Federal and Ebonyi State governments have strengthened their partnership in agricultural development and rural empowerment with the rollout of the Renewed Hope GEEP 3.0 FarmerMoni initiative targeted at smallholder farmers across the South-East region.
The programme, organised by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (N-SIPA) in collaboration with the Ebonyi State government, was unveiled during the Renewed Hope FarmerMoni South-East Media Sensitisation and Stakeholders’ Engagement held at Re-Meritona Hotels and Suites in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.
Speaking at the event on behalf of Governor Francis Nwifuru, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barrister Ikeuwa Omebeh, said the state government remained committed to transformative leadership anchored on the “People’s Charter of Needs” policy framework of the administration.
He said the government had continued to invest heavily in peace building, security, human capital development and agricultural empowerment programmes aimed at improving the welfare of vulnerable communities across the state.
According to him, the Nwifuru administration has prioritised the construction of concrete-paved rural roads and modern markets in rural communities to ease access to farms and improve the marketing of agricultural produce.
“Ebonyi people are hardworking and predominantly agrarian. Government’s fundamental responsibility is the protection of lives and property, and today Ebonyi remains one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.
“Before this administration came on board, there were communal clashes in different communities, but today those challenges have significantly reduced,” he stated.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction for sustaining intervention programmes in agriculture and poverty alleviation, noting that Ebonyi people had benefited immensely from the initiatives.
Earlier, the National Programme Manager of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), Hon. Hamza Baba, who represented the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro described FarmerMoni as one of the flagship intervention programmes of the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said the programme was designed to provide interest-free financial support to small-scale farmers to improve productivity, strengthen food security and reduce rural poverty.
Baba disclosed that Ebonyi State was selected to host the South-East zonal sensitisation because of its growing profile in agriculture, particularly in rice, cassava and livestock production.
He commended Governor Nwifuru for implementing policies that had positioned Ebonyi as an emerging agricultural hub in the country.
According to him, the state government’s investments in irrigation, livestock development, agricultural value chains and rural infrastructure demonstrated strong commitment towards sustainable food production.
He highlighted the implementation of the International Fund for Agricultural Development-supported Value Chain Development Programme and the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project backed by the World Bank, noting that such initiatives aligned with the objectives of FarmerMoni.
“The Federal Government is committed to supporting Nigerian farmers through inclusive economic growth and strategic agricultural partnerships.
“FarmerMoni is not a grant but an interest-free loan designed to support vulnerable farmers. Beneficiaries are expected to utilise the funds judiciously and repay within six to nine months to enable others benefit,” Baba said.
He further revealed that beneficiaries who successfully repay the loans would qualify for larger credit facilities through partnerships with financial institutions including the Bank of Agriculture and NIRSAL.
Baba urged desk officers and field coordinators selected from the local government areas to ensure transparency, credibility and fairness during enumeration and monitoring of beneficiaries.
Also speaking, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Human Capital Development and Monitoring, Mrs Ann Aligwe, said many smallholder farmers running in thousands in the state would benefit from the programme with each beneficiary expected to receive N300,000.
She explained that the intervention aligned with Governor Nwifuru’s Charter of Needs agenda which prioritises citizens’ welfare and human capital development.
“The essence of this programme is to ensure Ebonyians benefit directly from the Renewed Hope Agenda. These funds are meant to support small farmers during the farming season so that nobody in Ebonyi will go hungry during harvest periods,” she stated.
Aligwe recalled that the state government recently flagged off the distribution of debit cards to about 35,000 beneficiaries of another social investment initiative across the 13 local government areas of the state.
She advised beneficiaries not to divert the funds but to invest strictly in farming activities to maximise productivity and improve their livelihoods.
On whether additional phases would be introduced, the commissioner noted that the current allocation covered only the approved beneficiaries, adding that further expansion would depend on decisions by the Federal Government.
In his address, the Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Ebonyi State chapter, Dr Ignatius Unah, commended President Tinubu for introducing people-oriented programmes under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He described FarmerMoni, TraderMoni and MarketMoni as strategic interventions capable of transforming rural economies and empowering artisans, traders and farmers.
Unah also applauded Governor Nwifuru for complementing Federal Government efforts through free distribution of fertilisers, agrochemicals, financial assistance and the establishment of the Ebonyi State Agricultural Land Development Authority.
“Our farmers can now expand their farms without the age-long challenge of land access. With GEEP complementing state interventions, Ebonyi farmers are better positioned to increase food production and reduce poverty,” he said.
The AFAN chairman pledged the support of the association in mobilising and monitoring beneficiaries across the 13 local government areas to ensure effective implementation of the programme.
Similarly, the Head of Administration of GEEP, Ifeoma Chukwumbah, said FarmerMoni targets smallholder farmers involved in crop production, poultry, fisheries, livestock and allied agricultural ventures.
She explained that beneficiaries would receive collateral-free and interest-free loans of up to N300,000 with repayment structured around farming cycles.
According to her, repayment would commence three months after disbursement and could span six to nine months depending on the nature of farming activities.
Chukwumbah disclosed that unpaid beneficiaries captured under GEEP 2.0 in 2022 would also be accommodated once revalidated, while fresh registrations were ongoing for new participants under GEEP 3.0.
She stressed that membership of cooperative societies remained mandatory for participation in the programme.
Also delivering goodwill messages, Senior Special Assistant to the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate and Coordinator of Ebonyi Young Farmers Cooperative, Ugochukwu Iteshi and Mrs Kizito Nwankwo assured stakeholders that beneficiaries would utilise the opportunity responsibly to achieve the objectives of the programme.
As part of the sensitisation programme, officials and stakeholders visited selected agricultural clusters including SCON Agro Farm in Okaria Edda community in Abakaliki Local Government Area and Diamond Testimony Farm at Ameta Ezza in Ezza South Local Government Area.
The farms, which specialise in poultry, piggery, fisheries, palm plantation and other livestock activities, were showcased as examples of Ebonyi’s growing agricultural potential under ongoing government interventions.
