Anambra Agric Commissioner Onukwuba Asks CBN To Assist Farmers In Land Development, Simple Farming Machineries

The state commissioner for Agriculture, Mechanization, Processing and Export, Mr. Nnamdi Onukwuba has appealed to the Central Bank of Nigeria and other collaborating partners to assist farmers on land development and simple farming machineries to enable them achieve food security in the state.

Commissioner Onukwuba made the call, during a meeting on an anchor borrower scheme and farmers partnership meeting with COSCHARIS FARM LTD on off-taking arrangement of paddy rice held at the ADP complex hall, Ministry of Agriculture, Awka.

Mr. Onukwuba applauded the CBN for the reduction of the interest rate from nine per cent to five per cent single digit interest rate which he said is a huge encouragement to farmers accessing agricultural loan.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Stephenie Uzor enjoined farmers to continue to imbibe the concept of cluster farming to enable financial Institutions assist them in every possible way.

Contributing, the State Programme Coordinator, FG/IFAD Value Chain Development Programmer, Mr. Nnamdi Agwuncha commended CBN for assisting farmers’ growth in the agricultural sector, and the COSCHARIS FARM for the partnership stride with VCDP farmers.

Mr. Agwuncha said the partnership would flourish smoothly through the Commodity Agricultural Forum, CAF, which is an umbrella body that oversees the affairs of the Value Chain farmers in the State.

Earlier, the CBN Finance Development Officer, Anambra State, Mrs. Okpalaeke urged farmers to seize the institution’s partnership opportunity to actualize their agricultural goals.

On his part, the Paddy Procurement Manager of COSCHARIS FARM, Mr. Michael Okunoye assured farmers of their readiness and ability to off take any quantity of paddy they produce, but warned against side selling, which according to him would jeopardize the partnership.

In a vote of thanks, one of the farmers, Mr. Fidelis Ozor on behalf of others, while commending the VCDP coordination officer for facilitating such meeting, expressed their joy to CBN for putting measures in place for farmers to succeed, and as well appreciated COSCHARIS FARM for its partnership and promised them of full compliance.