Anchor Borrowers Scheme gains traction as more farmers enter scheme

The Central Bank’s Anchor Borrowers Scheme is gaining a lot of traction as more farmers continue to register for the scheme.

 The scheme is targeted at making Nigeria self-sufficient in rice, fish, wheat, palm oil and other commodities as part of government campaign to boost agriculture and reduce food imports, which weigh heavily on the country’s local currency.

 The scheme has recorded huge success in Kebbi state, the pioneer location for the scheme with over 200,000 farmers benefitting.

The scheme is currently being replicated in other states of the federation with 400,000 farmers in Adamawa currently undergoing training. 

Flagging-off the training on in Yola, Gov. Jibrilla Bindow of Adamawa said his administration was committed to agriculture which constituted the mainstay of the state’s economy.

 Represented by his deputy, Martins Babale, the governor said the goal of the government was to ensure that farmers were engaged all year round for maximum benefit from dry and wet season farming.

 “Let me re-iterate our government’s commitment to adopt all policy option that will move our state from civil service dependent economy to one that relies on productive enterprises such as agriculture, mining and manufacturing.

 “We are committed to ensuring massive participation in this scheme and other poverty reduction and wealth creation schemes, and ensuring increased dominance and visibility as the biggest rice and livestock producing state in the country,” Bindow said.

 He said that Adamawa had identified rice, maize, soya beans, sesame seeds and fish as it focal commodities.

 The scheme has increased Nigeria’s rice production as rice farmers continues to benefit from the programme.

 Muhammed Augie, Chairman, Rice farmers Association of Nigeria, Kebbi state chapter, told BusinessDay “After the dry season has gone through, the wet season will give not less than 700,000 metric tonnes, added to the 1.1 million tonnes from dry season farming, will result in a total of 1.8 million metric tonnes in yield for this year alone.”

“Judging from what happened this year, the harvest was good, likewise the price for many farmers. There were farmers not cultivating rice but who had land and based on the outcomes they have seen this season, there is going to be an increase in participation and the acreage to be cultivated.

“Next year, we expect at least double what we have harvested this year. With a projection of 2.5 million metric tonnes of paddy in dry season alone,” said Augie.

 Umar Bindir, chairman of the project management team and secretary to Adamawa State Government, said farmers have no reason to be poor if they make maximum use of the opportunity provided by the scheme.

 Bindir said that the training being offered the farmers was part of the conditions for beneficiaries.

Josephine Okojie with agency report