NAN-AE-6
AFAN
By Mohammed Lawal
Zaria (Kaduna State), Sep. 28, 2016 (NAN) All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Kaduna State has advised the Federal Government to review the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) supported Anchor-Borrower programme.
The state Chairman of AFAN, Alhaji Nuhu Aminu made the call in Zaria on Wednesday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
NAN reports that under the programme, the CBN set aside N40 billion of the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund to be given to farmers at single digit interest rate of nine percent per annum.
Aminu said the call became imperative in view of the fact that the programme started very late in the state when both maize and rice had reached an advanced stage of growth.
The chairman said it was worrisome to note that farmers in the state started receiving fertilisers and chemicals from off-takers in August through September.
“The delayed implementation of the programme in the state will affect the ability of beneficiaries to settle the soft loan from proceeds of 2016 harvest as expected,” he said.
Aminu observed that for the programme to achieve the desired success, government must ensure its early take-off so that both money and materials were available before the commencement of rainy season.
“Farmers will certainly be happy if this programme is given the desired attention it deserves, let the Federal Government approach the programme holistically.
“Nigerian farmers are eager to participate and willing to redeem the loan but they cannot cope with the way it is being handled.
“However, if the programme is changed from rainy season to dry season, it will certainly yield fruitful results, hence the call for its review,” he said.
NAN reports that the CBN established the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (CBN/ABP) with a view to collaborating with anchor companies involved in the production and processing of key agricultural commodities.
According to the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, the fall in oil prices has given us a timely reminder that we have no choice but to diversify our economy away from oil, and into agriculture, manufacturing, services, and other non-oil sectors.
Emefiele said the programme was one of the CBN’s policy initiatives to pursue the creation of jobs, reduction in food imports, and diversification of the economy.
The programme aims at creating economic linkages between over 600,000 smallholder farmers and reputable large-scale processors with a view to increasing agricultural output and significantly improving capacity utilization of integrated mills. (NAN)
KLM/MNA/AFA
Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Felix Ajide
============================