The Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN) has disclosed that drought, flood and insecurity are major threats to the country’s 2022 maize production output.
According to the National President of the association, Mr Bello Abubakar, the recent farming season has been characterised by various challenges which include drought, flood, insecurity and the adverse effects of Covid 19.
Abubakar noted during a meeting with maize farmers and stakeholders of the Central Bank of Nigeria under the anchor borrowers loan program that the aforementioned challenges could affect this year’s production.
He, however, quickly stressed that despite all the challenges, the loans collected under the anchor borrowers scheme must be repaid adding that the association has taken very strict measures to ensure full repayment of the loans.
He said, “insecurity affected farmers in some areas, farmers couldn’t go to the farm while in other places those who were able to farm were either made to pay high taxes to the insurgents and Bandits. Sometimes, farmers are kidnapped for ransom or have their farms burnt despite paying what was demanded”.
The National President also stated that the late disbursement of intervention funds which led to the late distribution of inputs to farmers is part of the challenges faced by the farmers.
Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said three million farmers benefited from the N791 billion loan disbursed under the anchor borrowers scheme.
Investors King could recall that the CBN vowed to move against defaulters of the Anchor Borrower Program, some of whom owe the apex bank billions of naira.
The CBN further urged the association to make sure members repay the loans noting that the loan repayment will help the anchor borrower program to be sustained.
Similarly, the representative of the Bank of Agriculture, Mr Ummah Sanusi who was also part of the meeting noted that some farmers had taken the loan as their share of the “National Cake”. He however acknowledged the effort of the association in making sure a good number of the beneficiaries kept to the term of the loan.