Obasanjo aide asks CBN research intervention for apple, others

The former Special Assistant (SA) to president  Olusegun Okiki Obasanjo, on food security matter , and presently a board member, National Apple Farmers, Processors  and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NAFPMAN) Prof. Olumide Makinde has appealed  Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to provide a  special intervention fund for research development so as to reduce gestation periods of crops like apple fruit towards achieving sustainable foods system freed of import bill.

Prof. Makinde made this request at the interface meeting between NAFPMAN and staff of the development finance department, CBN headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday this week.

Makinde opined that crops like apple with longer gestation period would rapidly develop within a shorter period if intervention fund are deplored by CBN to research development in order to ensure food security free of importation gulping billions of dollars annually.

According to him ‘‘i am of the view that funding of agricultural research for longer gestation crops like apple can enjoy the intervention support of your apex bank in order to reduce the crops’ production duration from planting to fruitions for food security, it is under this kind of assistance to research work that apple and many other crops that fall into this category can be quickly developed to arrest our rate of food importation’’

The representative of the director, development finance department, Mr. Philip Yila Yusfus who was represented by Mr. Sidik Olanrewaju said that the apex bank is disposed to any request that would add value to the economic development of the nation in terms of food security, job creation and ability to stop food importation gulping billions of naira annually, saying that the window for such opportunity cannot be closed against any crop that met the required condition of such intervention.

Mr. Olanrewaju stressed that the apex bank had supported cocoa, palm oil and cashew being long gestation crops like apple, saying however that CBN is always working in collaboration with other organizations like Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) to achieve its core fiscal/monetary policies without causing any rivalry.

He pointed further that loans from the apex bank are not free, but subsidized loans of single-digit, with an exception of the one in the health sector given to cushion the effect of the covid-19 pandemic for investors who are to provide local drugs, adding that there is critical condition the beneficiaries must meet to get the grant.

 Responding to the prayers of NAFPMAN, CBN advised that the request should come through their private chosen commercial bank whom they must have approached to present their case with all proofs of available logistics the CBN can use to assist either by prime anchor or as association anchor.

He however advised the members of the association to embark on persistent advocacy to create more awareness for apple cultivations based on its economic potentials to improve food security, create job for unemployed youths and checkmating unrest or insecurity in the country.

The national president, NAFPMAN, Mr. Clement Omoyemi Ohikhueme had prayed the CBN assists’ on major areas listed below

i.                    Feasibility report on apple importation, storage, distribution and local production.

ii.                  Awareness creation, sensitization and mobilization of stakeholders in the 36 states including FCT.

iii.                Mobility and office acquisition for each of the six geo-political zones and FCT

iv.               Support for stakeholders along the value chain 9 i.e. seedlings production, farming, processing and marketing of apples

v.                 Monitoring and evaluation.