Sokoto to access N220b CBN agric facility

Sultan, Tambuwal laud anchor scheme
Sokoto State is to access the N220 billion Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele has assured.

He gave the assurance yesterday at the launch of dry season wheat farming and distribution of wheat seeds under the apex bank’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) in Isa Local Council of the state.

Emefiele noted that the state met with its counter funding obligation, adding that the essence of the programme was in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to diversifying from oil and gas to agriculture while reducing heavy reliance on imported food.

He also assured that the ABP loans would be disbursed in due course through the Bank of Agriculture (BOA).

The CBN governor restated the apex bank’s commitment to diversification and “make the rural farmers millionaires”.

Earlier, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, lauded the scheme, describing it as an innovative approach to agricultural development.

Sultan also commended the CBN for making the dry season farming possible with its support, stressing that the programme was key to ensuring food security for the nation and, therefore, enjoined farmers to be diligent.

He however, stressed the need for partnerships to evolve solution to farmers and herdsmen’s crisis, noting that failure was inimical to efforts at achieving food security.

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said almost 85 per cent of the state’s estimated five million people are into farming, adding that the focus of his administration was to reduce poverty and cater for farmers through agriculture.

He added that since the launch of ABP in November 2015 in Kebbi State by President Buhari, the state had registered 12,000 wheat and 25,000 rice farmers.

The governor added that there is also the establishment of smallholder millers for wheat in 11 local councils with 12 others for rice production.

His Kebbi counterpart and chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Rice and Wheat, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said tremendous success had been achieved since the advent of the programme.