The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the Anchor Borrower Scheme is releasing N10 billion to rice farmers in Nasarawa State to improve wealth creation, boost employment and reduce poverty among the locals.
With the fund from the apex bank, the farmers are expected to increase yields, attract more investment, produce raw materials for industrial growth, and attain food security.
The state governor, Abdullahi Sule, disclosed this at the flag-off of sales of fertilizer and other agricultural inputs, for 2021 raining season at Andaha in Akwanga Local Government Area of the state.
According to Governor Sule, the beneficiaries have concluded plans to develop agriculture because of its huge potentials for the overall benefit of farmers and the entire people of the state.
The governor who restated his administration’s resolve to harness the agricultural potentials of the state, noted that until the state is able to properly exploit the sector, it may not be able to generate the desired employment for the teeming populace and create wealth for the society.
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Sule said as government, deliberate steps needed to be taken to improve the state’s internal revenue generation capacity.
He explained that but for the commitment of the state government, which recently hosted top notch investors, the CBN, Federal Government, and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector wouldn’t have collaborated with his government to give agriculture its place of pride in Nasarawa.
“This endeavour epitomises the readiness of our administration to foster partnerships towards giving agriculture its pride of place.
“I am happy to inform that the government has already concluded plans in collaboration with the Rice Farmers Association to attract investment of N10 billion to assist rice farmers in the state under the CBN’s Anchor Borrowers programme,” Sule stated.
On the sales of the fertilizer, Sule said a total of 1,020 metric tons, made up of 20,400 thousand bags, 1,950 sprayers, five tons of improved seeds, and assorted agro-chemicals would be distributed to farmers at a subsidised rate of N5000 per bag only.
He further disclosed that effort was underway to procure more quantities of fertilizer to help rejuvenate most of our soils that have remained less fertile and unproductive.
He recalled that, last year, the state government procured and distributed 240 metric tons of assorted fertilizers to dry season farmers at subsidized rates, while also procuring 930 metric tons (18,600 bags) of NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer for the year 2020 cropping season, aimed at improving agricultural production in the state.
“I wish to also charge the ministry of agriculture and water resources and the local government distribution committee to ensure that the relevant smallholder farmers benefit from this gesture of government.
“Let me also warned against attempt to hijack the sales of the fertilizer and other farming inputs. Anyone caught violating the processes for the sales and distribution would be made to face stiff punitive measures, irrespective of their status in the society,” Sule stated.
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