By Gabriel Udeh, Kaduna
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has expressed readiness to finance Agriculture in other to provide adequate food for Nigerians and Africans countries in general.
The Controller Kaduna state branch of the Bank Ahmad Mohammed Wali disclosed this during the 2021 Flag- off paddy sales and wet season Anchor Borrower Program (ABP) by Rice Farmers Association (RIFAN) at farin Goda, Mando Kaduna.
Mr Wali said the program is about sale of rice to the rice milling processors with the intention to reduce the price for the benefit of a common people in Nigeria and beyond.
Wali also said that Central Bank is ever ready to ensure food security and improved rice farming in the country.
“It’s a nation wide program with an intention to provide food on a common man table, that is why central Bank is always ready to ensure there is funds for farmers”, he said.
Also speaking, representative of the Director Development Finace of the Central Bank Mr Chika Nwaja, said the bank has the intention to removed the issue of a middle men during the sales of rice to processors for Nigerians to buy at the cheaper price.
“Because the market is the people of the country. With this, Nigerian citizens must get it affordable price, there is a reduction between the market price and the price that the central Bank is giving out to processors, now we are selling at 190,000 against the market price with a difference of 35,000 naira.
In his speech, the national president of the Rice farmers Association of Nigeria Alhaji Aminu Goronyo, said all that is taking place at the venue are provided by the CBN just to move the country forward.
“Even with the issue of security, rice farmers are trying to provide rice to the country”.
Amongs those presents at the event include representative of the Emir of Zazzau, the Dan Makwayon zazzau District head of Kawo Alhaji Jibrin Muhammad Sani Magaji that called on Government to re double efforts on the issue of kidnapping and insecurity in the Land.
Mr Andy came from the Rice processor association of Nigeria, Hajiya A’isha Umar Lere from unity Bank, Alhaji Bello Dogon Daji, representative of Hajiya Halima Lawal commissioner of Agriculture Kaduna state and the state chairman Rice farmers Association of Nigeria Kaduna state chapter Alhaji Mohammed Umar Numbu Dan galadimawa Numbu amongs others.
