The National Agricultural Commodities Projects (NACP) and Strategic Alliance of Presidents of Agricultural Commodity Associations of Nigeria (SAPACAN) have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to approve 70 per cent and 30 per cent of the fund to be disbursed for grants and loans respectively.
It would be recalled that President Tinubu, during a nationwide broadcast, approved N50 billion for the cultivation of 150,000 hectares of rice and maize and another N50 billion for cultivation of 100,000 hectares of wheat and cassava.
Addressing reporters yesterday in Abuja on behalf of the associations, the President of Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria, Dr. Bello Abubakar Annur, urged the President to disburse the fund through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to avoid bottlenecks in accessing the funds.
He suggested the setting up of an implementation committee and its membership should include the National Presidents of the four priority commodities associations.
He said the committee’s task would be to design the strategy that would help to mop the unsold produce in the rural areas and turn them into local food derivatives.
“The fund mentioned above should be 70 per cent grant and 30 per cent loan and the PFIs through the CBN, not like previous programmes, create unnecessary bottlenecks that will hinder easy accessing of the fund timely.
“There should be proper monitoring and evaluation of the implementation process to ensure benefits to the people. Appropriate reprimands and sanctions should be applied for glaring infractions and wilful sabotage,” Annur said.
Annur, however, advised the government mop up cassava, rice, maize and wheat for food and animal feeds in the short term.
He further called for the development of existing grazing reserves and support for the cultivation of specialised pasture and feeds for livestock.
Speaking on the N500 billion approved by the National Assembly, the commodity associations urged the government to closely monitor the banking sector in the provision of these loan facilities so that the eventual cost of funds is not above nine per cent from other banking fees and charges.
“The focus on improving food production by supporting cultivation of 500,000 hectares of farmland and all-year-round farming practice is a welcome initiative. NACP & SAPACAN suggest that N200 billion out of the N500 billion approved by the National Assembly should be managed by a special team involving the entire agricultural value chain to avoid the mistakes of the previous administration.
Annur also requested that the planned release of 200,000 metric tons of grains from strategic reserves to households across the 36 states and FCT, to moderate prices, should include the Leadership of NACP & SAPACAN for easy access and equitable distribution to our teeming members, who constitute the bulk of the target beneficiaries.(The Nation)
