More than 5,000 cotton farmers from five local government areas of Plateau State will benefit from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) anchor/borrower scheme in cotton production.
Chairman of the National Cotton Association of Nigeria in Plateau State, Mohammed Garba Garga said, at the flag off for the distribution of farm imputes including seeds and fertilizers, that the five local government areas are Kanke, Kanam, Wase, Langtang North and Bassa which have comparative advantage in cotton production.
Garga told the farmers to see the farm imputs provided as opportunity to not only provide employment but boost the local production and processing of cotton in the country.
He stressed that off-takers have already been provided and warned against selling the imputs or selling the harvested cotton to anyone other than the designated off takers for the state.
“If you care for your farm properly, every hectare will produce between one and half to two tonnes and the cotton will be bought at N 210, 000 per tonne,” he said.
Mrs. Helen Temtsen from the Development Finance Office of CBN Jos, said cotton was the third commodity in Plateau State to join the anchor borrower programme after rice and maize and reminded the farmers that the loan carries a nine per cent interest and payable after 12 months.
Earlier, the Acting Programme Manager of Plateau Agricultural Development Programme, Luka Kefas, said it will offer technical advice and extension demonstrations would be conducted with the farmers.
Kefas advised them to either burn or bury the cotton stalks after harvesting to reduce the menace of pest and diseases for the incoming year.
While flagging off the distribution, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, who was represented by the Director Agricultural Services, Helen Gontur said the state government has provided land for cotton farmers in Garga, Kanam LGA to ensure they work in clusters for easy monitoring while other local governments will also be keyed into similar opportunities.
Source: DailyTrust