By Clement Nnachi (abakaliki)
A Non-Governmental Organization known as “New Dawn Humanitarian Foundation in conjunction with Africunia /Spàrco Agricultural Grant Bank, has urged both the Federal and State Governments to facilitate farmers access to Grants for enhanced food productivity.
The President of the Foundation Comrade Kingsley Onwubuya, made the assertion in Abakaliki Local Government Headquarters Nkaliki Ebonyi State on Thursday, at the formal inauguration of Local Government Syndicates and Awareness creation on grants assessment.
The event whose main thrust focused on enlightenment campaign geared towards sensitizing farmers/ citizenry on modalities for accessing agricultural Grants for improved yields.
” Food crisis is coming closely to Africa ,we need to find solution, our goal is to encourage farmers to embark on large scale farming,
‘The Grants are free, we are here for the interest of the less priviledge, Africunia Bank has goodies for every body, we are going around the country to assist farmers and encourage youths go into farming’
According to him, ” such accelerated access to Grants by farmers would improve agricultural productivity and stem the tide of food insecurity’
He announced that registration for assessment of the grants were free, stating that the Foundation located Africunia Bank to curb the menace witnessed in the Grant Community in recent times.
“I call on prospective farmers to apply for the Grants through Africunia Bank,
According to him,”Africunia Bank is here to correct the wrongs of the past, some people in the past have applied for some other grants either from State Governments”
‘Africunia Bank has chosen New Dawn Foundation to reach out to farmers, bring farmers together, show them the modalities for Grant assessment’.
He highlighted the areas of agriculture where beneficiaries could invest the Grants to include Sesame Seeds, raw cocoa beans, ginger, Natural Palm Kernel, tomatoes, soya beans, sea foods, Gallstone, rubber, garlic, rice, cotton, snail, maize and cassava.
He expressed dismay that since 2015, some members of the Grant Community have not lived up to expectations stating that
Earlier while declaring the programme open, the Chairman of Abakaliki Local Government Hon Nwogba Ebere Stephen, represented by the Council Head of Personnel Management
commended the Foundation for the initiative.
The Council boss assured that the Local government would provide the enabling enviroment for improved agricultural productivity through constant assistànce to farmers.
The Syndicates inaugurated included Apostle Pauliben Nwali, Nnachi Victor Aja, Pastor Samuel Olughu, and Chima Akpa Ajunwa.
Others included Mr John Chukwu Ogbonnaya, Nwudele Samuel (m), Chibueze Okro (m), Mrs Nneka Nwatulor, Mrs Nwankego Grace among others.
The event was witnesses by Officials of New Dawn Himanitarian Foundation and Africunia Bank including Mrs Medeleine Winkler the Executive Secretary of the Bank, Comrade (Mrs) Becky James (Secretary of the Foundation, Apostle Henry Oko (Ebonyi State Syndicate) and Mrs Mercy Michael (Investment Manager Africunia Bank).
It would be noted that New Dawn Humanitarian Foundation is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), committed to assisting the downtrodden, peasant farmers secure Grants for improved agricultural production.
