Abuja — In an effort to boost production of sesame seed in the country and make it viable for export, National Sesame Seed Association of Nigeria (NSSAN), under the auspices of Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), has secured a N150 million loan for about 300 farmers.

According to a statement on Monday, this was disclosed recently by the Ag. Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEPC, Aliyu M. Lawal, at the launching of the Bornu State chapter of NSSAN.

Commending the association for securing the loan, Lawal promised the farmers that NEPC would continue to support the association to increase production of the crop.

It was against this backdrop that the council's helmsman promised to organise pre-planting and post harvesting trainings for the farmers in the state by 2009 to equip them with the best farming practices in sesame seed production.

President of NSSAN, Sherif Balogun, said the credit scheme through which the loan was secured would guarantee constant supply base of the crop as well as increase the export volume of the product.

This, he said, would lead to poverty alleviation and job creation.

According to Balogun, farmers who secured the loan under a co-operative arrangement, are expected to repay after harvesting the crop while NSSAN shall arrange for export of the product.

Vice President of NSSAN, Samson Enwerem, in his remarks, explained that the association secured the loan in conjunction with Development Measures Global Network.

He added that each of the 300 farmers will receive N45,000 to cultivate one hectare of land while the credit is expected to finance the cultivation of 3,000 hectares of farmland.