COV/USMAN MZ, JIGAWA
Central Bank of Nigeria has disbursed about four billion naira to rice famers under anchor barrower programme in jigawa state.
The Coordinator of the programme Alhaji Abdu Amadu stated this during the distribution of 2021 dry season rice farming materials in Dutse, the state capital.
According to him, the anchor barrower program was introduced by the Apex bank in 2015 to support peasant farmers in the country.
Alhaji Abdu Amadu pointed out that in the last two years, jigawa state government has refunded over 700 million naira to the bank following the supply of substandard wheat seeds to farmers under anchor barrowers program.
He therefore called on the state ministries and agencies and other stakeholders to cooperate with the bank towards recovering the loan.
Also, speaking the chairman of rice farmers association of Nigeria represented by Mallam Muhammad Auwal said rice farmers have expressed their gratitude to president Muhammad Buhari, Governors of Kebbi and Jigawa states for their contribution and support to improve farming activities in the country.
He said with the introduction of anchor barrowers and cluster farming the association had over one hundred thousand members in the state.
In a speech, Governor Badaru Abubakar advised people to embrace farming activities which would ensure food security and economic well being.
Badaru said the present administration had introduced a number of initiatives to improved yields and provide farmers with new farming techniques.
The ceremony was attended by the state Deputy Governor Mallam Umar Namadi, speaker jigawa state house of assembly Alhaji Idris Garba Kareka, members of the state executive council and the executives of the national and state rice association.