The Anchor borrower programme, as initiated by president Muhammed Buhari led government when it came on board, has again recorded another milestone in the country, this is as a critical stakeholder distributes paddy to Rice Millers across the country in other to cushion hardship Nigerians are going through in the country.
The stakeholder, Rice farmers Association of Nigerian (RIFAN), through its National President, Alhaji Aminu Muhammed Goronyo, confirmed at the occasion that it is a response to the call of the president to see that the country is self-sufficient feeding its citizens, as well, such that every average Nigerians could afford and access the price of food items at a cheaper rate.
Alhaji Goronyo, while giving his welcome address at the flag-off 2021 wet season farming and sales of paddy to Millers, said, “We are here today to respond to the call of the president who in 2015 has the vision that Nigerian must grow what we eat, through that effort a programme was launched, on the 17th November 2015 in Birnin Kebbi called Anchor borrower programme, and that was the beginning that was beginning of the success of this administration to be able to feed Nigerians without importing food from outside.”
Continuing,”RIFAN signs an MOU, strategic partnership between RIFAN and CBN to produce more than enough rice for Nigerians to consume by extension even export to neighbouring West African countries, and through that effort, today we are here to launch another milestone of successes”.
He reiterated that before the flag-off of the anchor borrower programme in 2015, Nigerian produce less than 2million metrics tons per annum, but today, over 9 million metric tons are produced, “You can see the difference between what we are obtaining before 2015 before the coming of this administration and what we are getting now. so, you can see the difference, and you don’t need to go into the nitty-gritty, The difference is clear, we are self-sufficient”.
Goronyo said the distribution of the paddies which occurred in sixteen states, also hinted was gotten after bumper harvest from farmers and were sold at a subsidized rate to millers for quick processing as directed by the Central Bank of Nigeria under the leadership of Godwin Emefiele through president Buhari, so that every household could have food on its table with ease
“Rifan has sold their paddy to Millers at 190 per KG as against the 200, 220. The CBN has directed that it has to be sold at an affordable price so that by extension the final consumer will get it cheap”
Witnessing the Success, the Central Bank of Nigerian which is an integral part of the Anchor borrower programme could not hide its satisfaction towards the success recorded by RIFAN”we are happy to note that we as Bankers whenever we bring out our money we expect the money to come back, am very delighted to find out that part of the recovery is here”,
The Branch controller Central Bank of Nigeria, Kaduna, Muhammed Ahmed Wali, who represented the Governor of CBN, Godwin Emefiele, therefore, appreciated the efforts of the farmers and encouraged them to maintain the tempo,” whatever you are bringing back, that is what we will give you for the next season. we know that rice production is year-round, there is the wet season, dry, so I will encourage our small farmers to double their efforts to repay their loan through this paddy Whereby our millers would have something to mill in their milling factories.”
Wali is been optimistic that there would be a boast in rice production in the country by the result witnessed today so that every citizen would have food on their table
He has pledged the Central Bank of Nigeria would sustain its efforts in ensuring that funds are been provided for the Programme in other to ensure food security and also boost the economy of the country.
