The Cross River State Government on Thursday said it had applied for N155m grant from the United States African Development Fund for farmers’ cooperative societies in the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. James Aniyom, said this in Calabar at the signing of a N14.5m grant agreement between USADF and Odot Women Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society in Odukpani Local Government Area of the state.
Aniyom said the N155m grant was expected to be given to other cooperative societies in the state, which had indicated interest to engage in various agricultural enterprises, such as fisheries, piggery and poultry.
“When I heard about the USADF, that they were going to assist the Odot women and there are other four groups waiting; then I wrote to the country director to ask for additional $1m for our farmers in the state, so that those that will want to increase their piggery, poultry and fishery businesses can do so,” he said.
The commissioner said the initiative of the USADF was very unique, adding that it was capable of uplifting the livelihoods of women in the group.
culled from Punch