Rains of paddy rice as CBN, RIFAN launch loan recovery in Gombe
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in collaboration with Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Gombe state chapter, has launched a 2021 wet season farming recovery effort under the Federal Government’s Anchor Borrowers Programme.
The ceremony was launched in Kurjale community, Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of Gombe on Saturday.
Our correspondent reports that officials of CBN, RIFAN, Unity Bank and traditional leaders visited some of the warehouses where bags of paddy rice recovered from farmers were stored.
In Kurjale, there was massive turn out of beneficiaries paying their loans using bags of paddy rice as more vehicles trooped the venue of the recovery ceremony.
The President of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Alhaji Aminu Mohammed Goronyo said the intervention by CBN was creating wealth for smallholder farmers in the state and country.
Represented by Alhaji Mohammed Auwal, National Vice President, RIFAN, Goronyo saidwith the impact of such intervention, soon many farmers would no longer need the loans as they would have been empowered beyond “borrowing”.
He stated that in spite the challenge of insecurity in some parts of the country, there was improvement in food security as a result of the intervention by the CBN.
Goronyo advised his members to speedily pay back the loans, adding that efforts were already concluded ahead of the commencement of dry season farming in the state.
Also speaking, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed Bello, Special Project Coordinator, CBN/Unity Bank/RIFAN Partnership, Gombe state chapter said almost 30, 000 bags of paddy rice were recovered during the launch.
Bello stated that Gombe state has a good recovery rate as over 85 per cent recovery had been made and more were still being received.
He said that with the intervention in 2021, 14, 000 rice farmers were supported during the dry season and 28, 000 were also supported for wet season farming.
“This administration of President MuhammaduBuhari is a blessing to farmers and we thank Mr President, the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, Alhaji Goronyo for their efforts at empowering farmers.”
Mr Abdullahi Baba-Isa, Head, Development, Finance Office, CBN, Gombe said government’s intervention in rice farming was yielding positive results.
Baba-Isa stated that the intervention by the CBN in providing inputs was to crash the price of rice in the country, boost food security, create jobs and improve the wellbeing of farmers in rural areas.
He stated that the apex bank was trying to maximize Nigeria’s potential in rice production as a measure towardsconservingexternal reserve, discouraging riceimportation while boosting local production of rice.
He said that the impact of Federal Government’s intervention in rice production was the reason the country was able to ensure food availability during Covid-19 lockdown when food importation was at a halt.
“The Anchor Borrower Programme has made a lot of positive impact on our economy, output and even the national food security system has been improved,” he said.
Baba-Isa hinted that CBN and RIFAN were already planning a one million rice pyramid in AbujabyJanuary 2022 as a way of exposing the gains of such partnership.
The CBN official commended RIFAN members in Gombe state for their positive responses in the recovery process.
He appealed to themto continue to pay their loans as a way of encouraging government to accommodate more farmers into the programme next year.
Women farmers and other rice farmer clusters from Kurjale and other communities lauded the Federal Government, RIFAN, Unity Bank and other stakeholders for ensuring transparency in the implementation of the project for the benefit of the common farmers in rural communities.
