The management of Lift Above Poverty Organization (LAPO) has said that a total of 98,202 smallholders farmers have been empowered with the sum of N3.2 billion within the first seven months of the year.
Recall that the organization had between January and May, 2017 disbursed the sum of N2.2 billion to 92, 156 subsistence farmers across the country.
Sabina Idowu-Osehobo, executive director of the organization gave the hint in Benin-City while reviewing the performance of the LAPO Agricultural and Rural Development Initiative (LARDI).
Osehobo said the programme was part of the organization’s policy to improve food security as well as enhanced the production capacity of rural farmers in the country.
While attributing LAPO’s outstanding performance over the years to strong institutional strength, staff commitment to excellence and hardwork, she added that the organization was ready to maintain its superior performance trajectory.
Idowu-Osehobo enjoined low-income farmers to take advantage of the affordable loan opportunity offered by LAPO to enhance the growth and development of their farm enterprises.
She also restated the organization’s commitment to agricultural development in the country.
She posited that the LAPO organization equally builds the capacity of rural farmers through on-farm demonstration and training as well as developed recently a 5-year growth strategy with People, Technology, Products and Performance as strategic pillars.
Since the collapse of global oil prices at the international market which plunged the Nigerian economy into a 25 year low in 2016, there has been a renewed focus on the agricultural sector as the country attempts to diversify its economy away from oil.
Agriculture which was neglected became an option for diversification owing to its vast potentials that can drive a more sustainable economic growth in Africa’s most populous nation in terms of job creation and revenue diversification.
IDRIS UMAR MOMOH, Benin
