NAN-AE-5
Scheme
By Rabe Sani
Hadejia (Jigawa), Nov. 11, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Government said on Friday that agricultural growth would have been nearly impossible if the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was not introduced.
The Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe, said this at the distribution of farm inputs to wheat and rice farmers in Hadejia, Jigawa.
Cue in audio (Ogbe)
“Without the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme it would have been nearly impossible to support the growth of agriculture as we are seeing now.
“I want to thank Nigerians especially the farmers; let me tell you, you are the greatest heroes of Nigeria because by doing what you are doing, you are beginning to give Nigeria a real independence.
“A country is not a country if it cannot feed itself.”
Cue out audio (Ogbe)
The Anchor Borrower’s Programme is a critical component of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.
It is designed to enhance farmers’ access to inputs, financing, and mechanisation, as well as encourage processing and entrepreneurial skills.
The programme is a partnership between CBN, the federal, and state governments.
Ogbe stated that the programme focuses on providing support to rural farmers to accelerate rice and wheat production as well as encourage the development of agriculture in general.
He explained that the programme was initiated by the government to make agriculture the mainstay of the economy.
According to the minister, the programme will support rural farmers and build their capacity as well as increase crop production to attain food sufficiency.
He further said that the programme was introduced to reduce dependence on foreign goods and encourage sustainable social and economic development.
“Economic development, progress in Nigeria will never happen unless we begin it in the rural areas, in the villages, the local governments and the states.
“That change is happening now; those who cannot see it yet have to open their eyes.
“In a few years, we shall be the major exporter of rice and we should no longer need to import expired rice from another country.”
Ogbe reiterated the government’s commitment to reducing poverty, job creation, and wealth creation through effective use of agricultural resources.
The minister acknowledged the progress Nigerian farmers have achieved under the programme so far and commended Nigerians for supporting government’s policies and programmes.
“The change Buhari promised has started; that change is here; that is the change that is endearing.
“That is the change that will make villagers richer than people living in cities because very soon, from what I saw, some of the farmers would be sending monies to their brothers in Abuja and Lagos.
“I can assure you that the man in the village is now the king; that time is on its way; that time is almost here.
“I thank you, Nigerian farmers, I thank you all Nigerians for your response to the call to return to the farms.”
The state governor, Badaru Abubakar, said the state government planned to establish a fertiliser blending plant in each of the three senatorial districts of the state.
Abubakar stated that 36, 250 farmer groups in the state have so far been registered under the anchor borrowers’ programme.
He said the state government spent 439 million naira on the programme and distributed fertiliser, seeds, chemicals and equipment to the farmers to enable increase them to increase production. (NAN)
RSA/OSA/YEE
Edited by Emmanuel Yashim
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