Delta State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Austine Chikezie, yesterday, expressed hopes that the current tempo of agricultural revolution in the state and the huge government assistance being offered farmers will effectively tackle challenges of food shortages, unemployment and poor market equity of locally produced agricultural products in the state.
Chikezie said the state is blessed with good arable lands that favour the cultivation of some of the most demanded products in the country, adding that the state is wholly ready to translate all veritable plans into actions that will yield desirable results.
The Commissioner spoke at the Agricultural Development Programme Hall at Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state where he Flagged off the training workshop of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrowers’ Programme.
Delta State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Austin Chikezie addressing farmers at the ADP, Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state of the state.
Chikezie observed that the State Government will be satisfied upon the realization of the expected outcome of the collaboration which he listed to include increase in lending to farmers, growth in capacity utilization in the agro allied industries, creation of direct and indirect jobs, reduction in food import and farmers empowerment.
“Great farmers, we have come a long way, we have the potentials in terms of vast land and the human resources. There exists also, a large market for farm produce. The state is now set to translate all planning efforts to further action. Till the soil and reap the work of your hand which the Lord will surely bless”, he charged the over 2,808 participants enlisted in the first phase of the programme.
He explained that the programme which is targeted at training selected farmers on improved production practices and group dynamics, with a special focus on fishery, rice, oil palm and cassava products, will enable farmers access CBN loans at a paltry 9 per cent interest rate, as well as provide inputs and technical assistance to farmers through the banks development partners.
The Commissioner disclosed that payments for inputs supplied to individual farmers would be made at source via bank and the balance left in the farmers’ account to run their farms, adding that farmers are required to sell their products to dedicated off-takers in order to facilitate loan recovery by the designated bank.
In their separate goodwill messages, the representative of the Anchor Off-Taker and Chief Executive Officer of Raymos Guanah Farms Limited, Barr. Raymos Guanah, State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Felix Kehis and representative of the Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), Mrs. Susan Agbala, said the programme will effectively address the challenge of selling harvested agricultural products, admitting that the scheme will encourage the continuity of farming in the state.
The author, Joshua Erubami, could be reached via 08065108405 or Erubami26@gmail.com
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