The Federal Government’s drive to strengthen agricultural financing at the grassroots gained fresh momentum in Cross River State as the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) convened a high-level stakeholder engagement ahead of the RH-GEEP 3.0 FarmMoni implementation.
The strategic meeting, which brought together leaders of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AfAN) and other critical institutions, signalled what observers describe as a decisive push to ensure that smallholder farmers are not left behind in Nigeria’s economic inclusion agenda.
Strategic Engagement to Strengthen Agricultural Inclusion
Akahi News gathered that the Cross River State Office of GEEP successfully concluded a sensitisation and stakeholder engagement meeting with the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AfAN), Cross River State Chapter, as part of preparations for the RH-GEEP 3.0 FarmMoni Programme.
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The engagement was led by the Programme Manager, Mrs. Fanny Odey, who emphasised the importance of collaboration between government agencies and organised farmer groups in ensuring transparency and effective implementation.
FarmMoni, a core component of the RH-GEEP 3.0 initiative, is designed to provide interest-free and collateral-free loans to smallholder farmers. The scheme seeks to boost agricultural production, enhance rural livelihoods, and strengthen food security across Nigeria.
According to information obtained by Akahi News, the meeting served not merely as an introduction to the programme but as a technical briefing session that outlined operational guidelines, eligibility requirements, and verification processes.
Key Stakeholders Align for Effective Implementation
The presence of influential stakeholders underscored the seriousness of the rollout. Among those in attendance were Engr. Sixtus, Consultant on Agricultural and Irrigation Development and former Managing Director of the Cross River Basin Development Authority; Mr. John, Director of the National Orientation Agency; Prof. Esther Achibong, State Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA); Rev. Ojikpong Nyiam Bisong, AfAN State President; and Dr. Ugbong, Director-General of the Cross River State Investment Promotion Bureau (CRISSA).
Akahi News learnt that discussions centred on ensuring credible data collection across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state. Stakeholders agreed that accurate identification of genuine farmers would determine the success and sustainability of the programme.
Participants highlighted the need for farmer associations to take ownership of mobilisation efforts, given their proximity to grassroots producers. This, according to analysts, is a critical safeguard against duplication, ghost beneficiaries, and potential abuse.
Transparency, Data Integrity and Repayment Culture Emphasised
A major focus of the engagement was the importance of transparency and a strong repayment culture. Officials stressed that although the loans are interest-free and collateral-free, they are not grants. Beneficiaries are expected to repay promptly to enable the recycling of funds and expansion of the programme.
Akahi News reports that stakeholders were urged to ensure proper validation before submission of beneficiary lists. The role of AfAN, in this regard, was described as central to filtering out ineligible applicants and preserving the integrity of the scheme.
Experts at the meeting noted that past agricultural intervention programmes have sometimes struggled due to weak repayment structures and poor data management. The RH-GEEP 3.0 FarmMoni framework, however, appears to integrate lessons from previous experiences by strengthening accountability mechanisms at the grassroots.
Alignment with National and State Development Agendas
The RH-GEEP 3.0 FarmMoni Programme aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises economic inclusion, poverty reduction, and agricultural productivity. By targeting smallholder farmers—who constitute a significant percentage of Nigeria’s agricultural workforce—the initiative aims to stimulate local economies from the bottom up.
At the state level, the programme resonates with Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s “People First” governance philosophy, which places rural development and citizens’ welfare at the centre of policy execution.
Akahi News understands that this alignment between federal and state priorities could create a more enabling environment for smooth implementation, especially where political will and administrative support converge.
Farmers Express Commitment to Structured Mobilisation
Members of AfAN reportedly welcomed the initiative and pledged full cooperation. They expressed readiness to support the identification of qualified farmers and ensure that only genuine smallholders benefit from the scheme.
The session also featured interactive discussions, allowing stakeholders to seek clarifications and offer recommendations. Observers described the dialogue as constructive and solution-driven, reflecting a shared commitment to achieving measurable impact.
For many rural farmers, access to credit remains one of the biggest barriers to scaling production. If properly implemented, stakeholders believe the RH-GEEP 3.0 FarmMoni Programme could significantly ease that burden in Cross River State.
A Defining Moment for Grassroots Agricultural Financing
The successful stakeholder engagement marks a significant milestone in the rollout of RH-GEEP 3.0 FarmMoni in Cross River. Beyond policy pronouncements, the programme’s credibility will ultimately depend on transparent processes, disciplined repayment, and sustained monitoring.
Akahi News will continue to monitor developments as registration and disbursement phases commence, assessing both impact and accountability.
With agriculture positioned as a pillar of national economic diversification, initiatives such as FarmMoni may prove pivotal in translating policy vision into tangible rural prosperity—provided implementation matches intention.
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
Joseph Iyaji is a journalist, educator, and founder of Akahi G. International, Akahi Tutors, and Akahi News. Read more about him here.
Akahi News www.akahinews.org
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