Delta State Government has registered over 30,000 farmers for the Central Bank’s Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP).
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Austin Chikezie, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Asaba, said over 30,000 farmers registered spread across the selected enterprises of Cassava, Oil Palm, Rice and Fisheries.
Chikezie explained that the CBN Anchor Borrowers scheme would be used as a financial model for small holder farmers in Oil Palm, Rice, Cassava and Fish.
According to the Commissioner, “through the scheme, qualified commodity out growers are assisted to identify an anchor firm (off taker or Processor) and supported with loan at nine per cent interest rate to increase their farm holdings in the state’’.
He also said high quality inputs and technical assistance would be provided for farmers.
Chikezie disclosed that the state government had commenced the raising of 220, 000 improved oil palm seedlings for distribution to 250 farmers for cultivation on 500 hectares of Oil palm plantations.
He said five mini-oil mills have been fabricated and ready for distribution to farmers, adding that the oil palm programme will create 100 direct jobs and over 300 indirect jobs in the state. He also spoke on rice production.
“In rice production, plans are on to ensure that rice cultivated in the state meets international standards, even as the state government has approved N51 million to boost its production by ensuring all season farming”, he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment