Not less than 75,000 wheat farmers under the aegis of Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria (WFAN) in Kano State are to benefit from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) anchored borrowers programme. The registration of farmers for this programme has commenced and beneficiaries are expected to use the loan to cultivate the commodity throughout this year’s dry season.
Speaking about the registration of farmers ahead of the programme, the Kano State chairman of WFAN, Alhaji Faruk Rabi’u said the decision to commence the registration was borne out of the Association’s effort to process the loan early, to enable farmers prepare before the dry season.
According to the WFAN chairman, farmers are required to open an account with one of the commercial banks as one of the conditions before accessing the loan. “We want to make sure that all registered farmers fulfill the conditions for accessing the loan before the dry season farming commences,” he said.
Rabi’u, however, expressed optimism that the programme would go a long way in boosting wheat production in the country. He, therefore, called on farmers in the state to make the best use of the opportunity provided by the present administration, to enhance their socio-economic status.
Under the CBN anchor borrowers’ scheme, each farmer was expected to collect seedlings, fertilizer, chemicals and water pump which represent a total package of N220,855. Each farmer was also expected to cultivate one hectare and repay the loan after harvesting the commodity.