No fewer than 6,457 members of South-West Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN) are to receive inputs worth N1 billion from the Anchor Borrower Programme (ABP) of the Federal Government.
Already, some of the inputs were distributed to farmers in Ibadan, Oyo State on Monday.
The input are: Maize seeds, fertilisers, herbicides, insecticides, knapsack sprayer and agrolysers.
Speaking during the occasion, the MAAN Chairman in Oyo State, Mr Raji Ayandele, explained that the aim of the programme was to enhance farmers production so that there would be sufficient food for consumption and export.
Ayandele said the programme was meant to help small scale farmers improve their earnings and livelihood.
“Virtually every aspect of agriculture including maize is involved.
“The number of beneficiaries is supposed to be more that this but most farmers are afraid of releasing their BVN number which is one of the major requirements to access the loan.
“We urge such farmers to come out to access the loan so as to benefit,” he said.
Ayandele appealed to the federal government to improve on the country’s security to safeguard farmers and commodities, so that the impact of COVID-19 on food production would be drastically reduced.
He further appreciated government for the kind gesture and all other stakeholders for their support to make the programme a reality.
Also, the Oyo state branch Controller, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs Olufolake Ogundero, said the programme was to improve maize production, food security and create job opportunities.
“The CBN initiated the ABP to ease access to finance and other inputs to small holder farmers under various commodities with a national spread at an agreed off take price through national associations of various agric. commodities.
“It’s aimed at ensuring that right inputs are distributed to farmers for the smooth take off of the 2020 wet season of maize farming with adequate farm mapping and data capturing of the farmers,” she said.One of the beneficiaries, Mr Emmanuel Oluwasola, said he had benefited for a long time from the programme, especially in terms of having sufficient and improved inputs as well as bumper harvestnan
