Federal government has expressed it determination to repositioning Bank of Agriculture BOA to meet best standard as part of present administration commitment to increase food production across the country.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mohammed Mahmud Abubakar stated when he paid familiarisation visit to the Management of the Bank of Agriculture in Kaduna.
Dr Mohammed Mahmud explained that, his Ministry would strengthen collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria and other Cooperating partners to ensure that, the operation of the Bank of Agriculture is going smoothly.
The Minister asked the Management of the Bank to present their major request to the Minister for necessary support and intervention.
According to him, the Bank must to work effectively for the benefit of Small farmers across the country.
The acting Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture, Alhaji Alwan Ali Hassan who presented status report of the Bank to the Minister identify decaying infrastructure, Skills gaps in some operational areas, inadequate capital for Business, absence of a banking license and inadequate of ICT Infrastructure as some of the challanges affecting smooth operation of the Bank.
Alhaji Alwan Hassan expressed believe that, the Minister would reposition the bank to achieve it’s Mandate and impact positively on growth of agriculture in the country by increasing food production and ensuring food security.
Similarly, the Minister also visited Federal Cooperative College Kaduna, in her presentation, the provost of the College Hajiya Aisha Ismail Ishaq said the mandate of the Institution was to provide cooperative vocational and entrepreneurial skills as well as technical knowledge capable of establishing and managing Cooperative.
Hajiya Aisha Ishaq emphasized the need for the Minister to intervene on the withdrawal of the College from the list of TETFUND beneficiaries.
She described lack of overhead of the college and man power shortage both for academic and non academic as some of the challanges affecting their operation.
She called on the Minister to support the College with additional overhead as well as to construct bridges and drainages within the college.
Responding, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development assured Management of the College that, he would do everything humanly possible to address the major challenges facing the college.
The Minister also paid familiarisation tour to some agricultural Institutions such as National Soil Fertility Testing Laboratory Gonin Gora Kaduna and the Federal College of Agriculture and Animal Science Mando Kaduna, he however urged Management of the Institutions to forward their urgent request for quick support.
AMINU DALHATU