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 Programme (GEEP) 3.0 FarmerMoni initiative.
The exercise, organised by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) and the state government, will identify smallholder farmers for the interest-free loan scheme.
Speaking at the flag-off in Ilorin, the Special Adviser and Focal Person to the Kwara State Government on NSIPA, Dr Rabiat Jimoh Alabere, said the initiative would improve access to finance, strengthen agricultural productivity and promote food security.
She said credibility would determine its overall success. She also urged local government desk officers to ensure transparent enumeration, accurate documentation and fair selection.
Alabere called on community leaders, stakeholders and farmers to cooperate with enumerators so that only qualified applicants would be captured.
The North-Central Coordinator of GEEP, Hajia Hawa Abubakar, said participation was free and warned that nobody should demand money from farmers to facilitate registration.
FarmerMoni is part of GEEP, a Federal Government social investment programme that provides interest-free loans to eligible smallholder farmers. The national scheme offers loans of up to ₦300,000, subject to eligibility and programme conditions. However, the Kwara announcement confirms the start of enumeration; it does not guarantee that everyone captured will receive a loan.
The organisers commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for collaborating with the Federal Government. He was represented at the ceremony by his adviser and counsellor, Alhaji Saadu Salahu.
How to benefit
Farmers in Kwara should cooperate with authorised enumerators and provide accurate information about their farming activities. Enumeration is taking place across all 16 local government areas. Participation is free. Farmers should not pay anyone promising to secure registration or guarantee loan approval. They should seek clarification from relevant state or GEEP officials.
