Anchor Borrower: Adamawa farmers lament late implementation of program
NAN-H-25
Farmers
Yola, Sept. 18, 2016 (NAN) Some farmers in Adamawa have expressed concern over the late implementation of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) supported Anchor Borrower rice production programme in the state.
The farmers, who spoke to the New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola said that the delayed implementation of the programme in the state would affect the ability of beneficiaries to settle the soft loan from proceeds of 2016 harvest as expected.
“We are yet to get the cash, while distribution of fertilizer for the programme was flagged-off just last Thursday, unlike farmers in Kebbi, Benue and Kano states who got their fertilizer and other inputs in April,” a farmer, Hamman-Tukur Ahmed said.
Ahmed noted that farmers in Kebbi, Benue and Kano states, who got their inputs in good time, had commenced harvest and bagging, putting them in a better position to re-pay their loan.
Ahmed urged government to extend the repayment time for Adamawa farmers as many of them had no option than to rely on dry season farming.
“As I talk to you now, beneficiaries of this programme in Adamawa are yet to sit with off takers and inputs providers,” he said.
Ladan Musa, Moses Peter, Ibrahim Abubakar and Hauwa Hassan, also lamented the late implementation of the programme in the state and urged government to address the problem in next cropping season.
“This late arrival of fertilizer and other inputs had seriously affected our expected yield for this cropping season; we are suppose to get fertilizer in May.
“There are reports that some of our colleagues that have no plan for dry season farming, have started selling off their fertilizer”, Musa said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that out of the over 100, 000 farmers registered for the Anchor Borrowers Scheme in Adamawa, the CBN has so far approved the participation of only 28, 000.
According to the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Waziri Ahmadu, the application of other farmers were rejected by CBN due to inappropriate registration, such as lack of Bank Verification Number (BVN). (NAN)
YMU/ASH/ASH