By Akanimo Kufre (The New Diplomat’s A/Ibom|C/River Correspondent)
The Akwa Ibom state Chapter of Maize Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, (MAGPAMAN) were beaming with excitement last Thursday, following the donation of farm inputs under the Anchor Borrowers Program of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Speaking at the event, the Branch Controller, CBN Uyo, Ogbomon-Paul Itohan Mercy emphasized on the need to make agriculture a priority so as to promote food security, economic diversification, conservation of foreign reserve and reduction of huge import bills.
“One of our recent developmental intervention is the Anchor Borrowers Program, ABP, which was launched by His Excellency, President Muhammed Buhari on November 17th 2015 with the aim of linking Small Holder Farmers with Anchors otherwise called processors who would ensure ready market for their farm produce. The Anchors guarantee the purchase of the farm produce.” Bar. Isang Agbani Enya who represented the CBN Branch Controller said.
Items presented to the maize growers include NPK fertilizers, urea, insecticides, knap sack sprayers and bags of improved maize seeds.
Also 3,602 maize farmers in Akwa Ibom State as of the time reporting are being processed for ABP loans facilitated by Eco Bank PLC.
Akwa Ibom State maize farmers are part of the first 15 states to benefit from this program that 10,750 farmers have so far enjoyed across the country.
The high point of the occasion was the symbolic presentation of the farm inputs to some maize farmers by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Women Affairs, Dr Gloria Edet, represented by Director of Agric, Mr Emmanuel Akpan.
The Commissioner noted that the state government is committed to agriculture with the promotion of various value addition programs.
“We thank the Almighty God for the fertile land he has given to Akwa Ibom State. The land in Akwa Ibom State is so fertile that there’s nothing you put in it that you will not reap bountifully. I give kudos to our dear governor who is so passionate about agriculture, you can see that in various agriculture programs he has promoted in the state. During the COVID 19 lockdown, Akwa Ibom people can feed themselves through the governor’s effort. He had put things in place already, talk of vegetables, we have the greenhouse, massive cultivation of cassava and maize protection program against army worms. And the governor is ready to support farmers in any form to increase their yield.” The Commissioner for Agriculture and Women Affairs representative remarked.
Also at the occasion, the Head of DFO, CBN, Mr Desmond Ushie urged maize growers in the state to be prudent in handling the inputs and loan for more rewards from the government agency.
“This is the inputs distribution card, it is to ascertain the number of farmers that have access or collected their inputs. At the venue of distribution, the service provider shall scan the barcode to automatically documents the inputs a farmer has collected. This database will help you collect the loan again owing to your good performance,” Ushie said.
Ushie also assured that off- takers are already on standby for the harvested crops.
On the impact of open cattle rearing on maize productivity, he said such occurrence is rare in Akwa Ibom, but should be reported to the police authority immediately.
While responding to government’s gestures to the maize farmers, the MAGPAMAN leadership said the era of maize importation into the state has come to an end.
MAGPAMAN Chairman, Apostle Etop and Vice chairman, Mrs Mabel Daniel Akpan thanked the federal government, CBN, AKSG and Eco Bank.
Similarly an Abak-based maize farmer, Mr Eno Effiong Akpan said the flag-off was first of its kind. Akpan who was overwhelmed with joy gave thumbs up to the government for not giving the inputs to political or portfolio farmers as usual but to real farmers on the ground with federal monitors to avoid diversion.
