The Kwara State Government has commenced the enumeration of farmers across the state’s 16 local government areas under the Federal Government’s Government Enterprise and Empowerment Program (GEEP) 3.0 FarmerMoni initiative.
The exercise, organised by the National Social Investment Program Agency (NSIPA) in collaboration with the state government, is aimed at identifying genuine smallholder farmers for the interest-free loan scheme.
The government has assured prospective beneficiaries that the enumeration is free, warning officials against demanding money from applicants under any guise.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Ilorin on Thursday, the Special Adviser and Focal Person to the Kwara State Government on NSIPA, Dr Rabiat Jimoh Alabere, said the initiative was designed to improve farmers’ access to financial support, boost agricultural productivity and strengthen food security.
Alabere described the program as an important intervention for smallholder farmers, noting that access to affordable financial assistance would enable them to expand their farming activities and improve their livelihoods.
She stressed that the success of the programme depended largely on the credibility of the enumeration process, urging local government desk officers to discharge their responsibilities with professionalism, transparency and accountability.
“Your role in this program is very important. You are expected to handle this assignment with professionalism, transparency and a sense of responsibility,” she said.
She urged the officers to ensure accurate documentation, fair selection and proper engagement with prospective beneficiaries, warning against discrimination in the process.
Alabere also called on community leaders, stakeholders and farmers across the state to cooperate with enumerators to ensure that only qualified farmers were captured.
In her remarks, the North-Central Coordinator of GEEP, Hajia Hawa Abubakar, reiterated that participation in the exercise was entirely free.
She warned that no eligible farmer should be asked to pay money to secure registration or access to the programme.
“I want to remind our desk officers that this exercise is completely free of charge,” Abubakar said.
She urged smallholder farmers to take advantage of the Federal Government’s intervention, which seeks to strengthen grassroots economic activities and expand access to financial opportunities.
Abubakar also cautioned the desk officers against practices that could undermine the integrity of the exercise, insisting that the process must remain transparent and accessible to all qualified applicants.
She commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented at the event by his adviser and counsellor, Saadu Salahu, for his administration’s collaboration with the Federal Government in implementing social investment programmes in the state.
Other dignitaries at the event included the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Hon. Oluwatoyosi Thomas; programme consultants and trainers; and the state Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Malam Shuaib Ajibola.
Desk officers drawn from the 16 local government councils also participated in the training organised ahead of the enumeration exercise.
The FarmerMoni initiative under GEEP 3.0 is expected to expand financial inclusion among smallholder farmers, support agricultural activities, reduce poverty and improve food security across Kwara State.
