Ogun State registers farmers for Anchor Programme

The Ogun State Government has said that  Fifty One thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety Four (51,994) verified farmers have been registered to partake in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrower Programme (ABP) purposely meant to give financial intervention support to commercial food security on available land of 47,047 hectares.

This was contained in statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Dr. Samson Odedina.

This according to the statement was in line with the Governor Dapo Biodun’s vision to creating an enabling environment for inclusive development of agricultural sector in the state towards creation of jobs, wealth and food security adding that ABP was an opportunity to help farmers key into funding along with other stakeholders at the value chains of food productivity.

The statement credited ABP steering committee to have accomplished a number of milestones in a time frame between November 11, 2019 and December 10, 2019 saying it has been able to register farmers on cassava, maize, rice, poultry, fishery, palm oil, piggery and cattle for the programme.

Statistically it was stated that ‘’ 64,456 people registered through the Ogun State Job Portal, farmers associations, Ministry of Agriculture and 80 local government registration points. 51,994 verified farmers. 28% in need of infrastructure. 41% under age 40. A total of 47,047 Ha have been identified as available for the Anchor Borrowers Program. 29,723 Ha of government land and 17,324 Ha of community land’’

In another statement it was said that the State has the ability to synergise effort with International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to enhance farmers and processors empowerment through additional financing scheduled to close by 2020.  The state can coordinate activities such as land clearing, access roads and bridges to farmers in communities benefitting from IFAD.

Meanwhile, Obafemi/Owode, Ijebu East, Ijebu North East and Ifo were beneficiaries before now while  Odeda, Odogbolu and Yewa South were recently included.

This will in no small measures create avalanche of opportunities for the rural dwellers and open up vistas of unparalleled development in these areas as they would soon become points of interest for industries and companies that rely solely on agricultural products for their production.

The statement went further to express government’s readiness to bring a lasting solution to the farmers/ herdsmen conflict in the state as Dr. Odedina expressed to farmers at a workshop that the resolution would bring about improvement for both, and increase income generation also.

The Government according to the statement is committed to industrialising the agricultural sector which will ensure food security, increase food production of rural farmers, provide raw materials for agro-allied industries, as well as create employment opportunities for the youths adding that the CBN and other intervention agencies had shown interest to make Ogun State the reference point in major crops that have comparative advantages.

Government commended the leadership representing farmers and herders in the State for the level of peace achieved so far, saying that no nation can thrive where there is rancour and resentment “As leaders, we need to be ready for challenges and be ready to confront and solve it. The government will support all committees, dialogue sessions, initiatives and logistics that will make this intervention work because, if we are not at peace, there would be no progress’’

The release credited the chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria ( AFAN), Ogun State Chapter, Prince Segun Dasaolu as saying that the meeting became imperative for purpose of peaceful co- existed between herdsmen and farmers to checkmate incessant killing of people and properties destruction.

In his response according to the statement, the Chairman of Miyetti Allah in the South West, Mallam Mohammed Kabir revealed that the farmers and herders have been involved in a series of meetings before now to finding a lasting solution to the crisis thereby commending the Ogun State government for her determination to resolve the challenges hoping that the same would be replicated in all the other states in the region.