Farmers and traders at Kpeve in the South-Dayi
District have expressed the hope that the opening of a branch of Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) at Kpeve would improve agric-business in
the area, which is mainly agrarian.
They said their major need in the area is access to credit facilities and expressed the hope that ADB with its main focus on agriculture, would be of immense help to farmers, the fishing sector, and traders in the area.
The farmers and traders were interacting with the GNA during the official opening of the Kpeve branch of ADB on Friday.
The impression gathered was that the commencement of business of ADB in the area would present the long sought for impetus to their businesses.
Madam Felicia Kudaya, a farmer and a trader who sells cereals at Kpeve Market said loans she and colleagues had contracted from other sources were of little help, forcing them to join "susu" groups for credits which in many cases were inadequate.
Mr Stephen Dzimadekpor, also a farmer said he would seek credit from the ADB to increase acreage of his farming business.
Togbe Anku Dompey XI, Paramount Chief of Kpeve, urged the youth of the area to take advantage of the presence of ADB to go into large scale farming to raise their income levels.
Mr Stephen Kpordzih, Managing Director of ADB, said agricultural financing remained the core business of ADB and assured the people of the Bank's full support to farmers.
He said two dedicated outfits had been created within the Bank, namely the Development Finance Unit and the Strategic Policy Coordinating Unit to ensure that the Bank became highly efficient in agricultural policy-led
lending, for the development of agriculture and agro-based businesses.