The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Sokoto State Government is set to complete the spending of over N1.12 billion on the Anchor Borrowers Wheat Farming Programme in February 2017. This was revealed by the Chairman of the Framework Committee on Agricultural Development, Sokoto state, Chiso Abdullahi.
Abdullahi also informed the News Agency of Nigeria that out of the amount, the CBN contributed about N990 million, while the state government provided over N125 million including wheat seeds.
”The state government had since distributed over 1500 bags of wheat seeds free to the farmers across the state. In the same vein, the state government had sold additional 2,094 bags of wheat seeds to the farmers, with each bag bought at N35,000 and sold at N18,219”, he said.
Speaking further, he said about 4,305 farmers are beneficiaries of this scheme that commenced November 2016 and will end in the first week of February 2017.
”The government had also given assorted fertilisers to the farmers at highly subsidised rates as well as other farm inputs,” he said.
The chairman further said that the farmers had been fully trained, while adequate extension officers were provided for them, with each farmer billed to get a package of N235,000 in cash and/or kind.
Speaking on the efforts of the both the CBN and the state government, he stated that both parties have made adequate arrangements provide all the logistics needed for the success of the programme.
Abdullahi, who is also a former deputy Governor of the state, also disclosed that the state government has also concluded arrangements to establish a mini-tomatoes paste production company in the state.
According to him; “all these are being done in the bid to have more value addition, reduce poverty and unemployment, curb post-harvest losses and boost food security in the state”.
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