Anchor borrowers’ programme : Ogun govt. organises supplementary training for 3,500 farmers
The Ogun Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina said the Gov. Dapo Abiodun led- administration expected optimum performance from the beneficiaries of Anchor Borrowers programme , thus, organised supplementary training for all the 3, 500 farmers, who were selected through a transparent and all-inclusive system across the 20 Local Government Areas.
Adeola stated this while conducting an on-the-spot assessment to plantations at Otete in Yewa North Local Government Area in company of the Members of Ogun House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Forestry and the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) Steering Committee.
Assuring of supervision of the farmland, Odedina disclosed that 74 hectares of land were allotted to the 127 cassava farmers in various locations including Otete, Idagba, Igbogila, Sawonjo and Imasayi In Yewa North with a projection of 40 tonnes per hectares as against the 25 tonnes expected from each beneficiary.
He noted that another Federal Government funded programme was underway to serve as a rewarding model for successful farmers, who were able to meet up with the expectations of the on-going programme.
The house of assembly committee led by its Chairman, Sylvester Abiodun thrown its weight behind the operations of the Federal Government sponsored Anchor Borrowers Programme in the State.
Abiodun, represented by his Vice,, Hon. Yusuf Adejojo, described it as a legacy project that would boost farmers’ productivity towards achieving increased food security in the nation.
He assured of more legislations towards sustaining the intervention programmes.
Recalling that the Assembly had earlier engaged the Commissioner on the benefits of the scheme, Abiodun expressed optimism that the scheme would increase value addition, hence the need to put in place legislative framework towards providing consumable agricultural produce and raw materials to further position the State as a leading entity in food production among the comity of states.
In their respective remarks, the State Chairman, Nigeria Cassava Growers Association, Akinbode Adeneye, beneficiaries of the scheme, Kunle Fashola and Falana Adijat, lauded the application and selection processes for the programmes.
They said it was an attestation of the transparency and inclusive policy of the present administration as beneficiaries were chosen across religion and ethnic backgrounds.
