No fewer than 350 cassava farmers are to benefit from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrowers Programme in Edo North senatorial district of Edo state.
Abdulłahi Muhammed, coordinator, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Edo North senatorial district gave the hint in an exclusive interview with BusinessDay in Auchi. the administrative headquarters of Etsako West local government area.
Edo North senatorial district comprises of six local government areas which are Akoko-Edo, Etsako Central, Etsako East, Etsako West, Owan East and Owan West respectively.
Muhammad also disclosed that Edo State government has approved the sum of N140 million as its counterpart funding for land preparation for the programme.
He said a total of 150 cassava farmers were shortlisted to cultivate two hectares each while 200 youths in the senatorial district have been directed by the state government to participate in the programme.
He explained that the 150 famers will cultivate 300 hectares while the 200 youths will cultivate 200 hectares thereby bringing the total hectares to be cultivated to 500 hectares.
The coordinator further explained that the Edo state government in conjunction with the Elephant Group Plc and the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to buy off the cassava from the farmers.
He added that the cassava so buy off from the famers will in turn be processed into flour by the Idaewor cassava processing factory located at Iraokhor community in Etsako Central local government area.
Muhammad said the state government has promised to create access roads and other facilities such as water, electricity at the cluster farm settlements to reduce the challenges militating against agricultural activities.
The AFAN coordinator, who noted that the programme will kick off before the end of the year, added that a meeting for all stakeholders in the programme had been held in Benin-City.
He posited that the 500 hectares would be established in cluster of farm settlements to be located across the six local government areas of the senatorial district.
IDRIS UMAR MOMOH, Benin
