EKITI DENIES SURCHARGING FARMERS

There were reports that some faceless individuals had been forcing farmers to pay undisclosed amount before they could benefit from the state agricultural loans and other benefits.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Adio Folayan, at a briefing, insisted that government did not give such directives.

He said: 'It has come to the notice of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development that some individuals and organizations have been asking farmers to either obtain forms or deposit certain sum of money in specific places to secure agricultural loans in the state.

'I wish to state categorically that all these unknown individuals and organizations are doing it purely on their own and have no bearing to the government programmes on assistance to farmers. Farmers in the state are therefore warned to be wary of people they are dealing with as anybody having anything to do with these unauthorized associations are doing so at their own risk.'