THE Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin, has expended a sum of N10 million on eight rural communities in Kwara State on its rural empowerment scheme christened, Value Alive Development Initiative (VALDI).

The Acting Director, ARMTI, Anthony Njoku, yesterday at Apa-Ola in Ifelodun local council of Kwara State, said, "the money was distributed by a commercial bank to the villagers, forming contributory groups under a revolving loan arrangement.

Already, the institute, having identified the needs of members of each of the communities has concluded arrangements to distribute fabricated tools and machines to them to boost production.

Njoku described the rural management aspect of the mandate of ARMTI as essential, noting that the institution would expand the scope of its operations when adequate fund is released for the purpose.