YENAGOA- The National Programme for Food Security (NPFS) has extended credit facility to farmers group in 109 sites of Bayelsa State.

Mr. Francis Alagoa, Programme Manager, Bayelsa State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), made the announcement on Monday in Yenogoa at a capacity building workshop on community-driven development.

He said the credit facility was for the implementation of different modules in various enterprises during the first phase of operation.

Alagoa promised that the facility would also be extended to farmers in 327 sites during the second phase.

He said the Federal Government, through NPFS, would assist farmers to increase their output, to enable them to generate more income.

Alagoa urged beneficiaries of the credit facility to pay back their loans on time, to enable other farmers to benefit from the facility, which he described as a revolving loan.

He said that loan recovery suffered some setback at the three sites in Ofoni, Odi and Otuasega.

The Executive Director, National Food Reserve Agency, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, Dr Salisu Ingawa, said the development of rural areas could be achieved through the mobilisation of their resources.

Ingawa, represented by the Principal Registrar of Cooperative, Mr. Amu Anthony, said community development associations in some rural communities in Nigeria, had initiated programmes, which they could not complete, due to financial constraints.