The Nasarawa State Agricultural Development Project (NADP) recently disbursed a total of N3,410,550.00 as loan to four farmers multi-purpose cooperative societies in the state, under the National Root and Tuber Expansion Programme (RTEP).

The NADP programme manager, Mr. Naphtal Jarumi Dachor, presented the cheques of various amounts to the representatives of the benefiting cooperative societies at a ceremony in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

The NADP is the agency shouldered with the responsibility of implementing the RTEP in Nasarawa State.

Mr. Dachor has, while presenting the cheques, warned the beneficiaries to ensure proper and judicious use of the loan disbursed to them.

The NADP manager explained that the RTEP was determined to promote the “processing and marketing of root and tuber crops, such as cassava, yam, cocoyam and potatoes with a view to preventing the wastage of these crops”.

Mr. Dachor enjoined the loan beneficiaries to ensure that they “purchase integrated processing machines and drying slabs”, advising them to properly maintained their environment at all times.

The manager said it was only when the loans were used in accordance with the laid down guidelines that the federal and state governments would be encouraged to continue to empower the farmers, stressing that diversion of the funds to other uses would not be tolerated.

A breakdown of the disbursement shows that Arun-Tumara Women Multi-purpose Cooperative Society in Wamba Local Government received N1,054,900.00; Ungwar Sama Women Processing Cooperative Society received N1,091,200.00. while Kaibo Mada RTEP Farmers Association in Keffi Local Government and Shabu Women Processing Society received N707,300.00 and N557,150.00 respectively.

Mr. Dachor explained that the disbursed amounts were part of the 15% and 40% grants from the Federal Government of Nigeria and IFAD respectively.

He said the Nasarawa State Government had earlier released its counterpart fund of N9.96 million for the year 2007, assuring that the year 2008 fund would soon be released by the government for the programme.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Malam Ja’afaru Sarki, who is the secretary of the Shabu Cooperative Society, assured that they would make proper and judicious use of the loans.

He expressed the gratitude of the people to the Nasarawa State and Federal Government as well as IFAD for their support.