By David Peter
Cross river state practitioner farmer structure a sustainable pathways towards harnessing Gov. Ben Ayade agricultural revolution and value chains across Cross River State.
Hon. Emmanuel Anoh; National Vice President of RIFAN South-South led potential farmers in the 18 LGA of Cross River to brainstorm with agricultural lending agencies to foster agricultural productivity in Cross River State.
While speaking; he unveils this is the foremost meeting with the leadership of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) inclusively agricultural lending agencies. In appearance were representative and state managers of; Central Bank of Nigeria; Dev & finance officer- Dr. Aniefiok A. Umoren , Branch Manager; Unity Bank- Annie Sampson, Branch Manager; Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Cooperation- Eno Ekpe, Branch Manager; Bank of Agriculture- T. T Takim and P.M representative Cross River State Agricultural Development Programme (CRADP)- Eld. Ubi Obeten.
Hon. Emmanuel, unleased his core objective for the PMT meeting whose aimed to restrengthened farmers in the state to epic the giant stride of the governors agricultural revolution.
He said; “I feel so worried as well having sleepless night when it comes to agricultural management in the state as the Anchor Borrowers Program is unbalance having witnessed of His Excellency drive and enthusiasm towards agricultural mechanization and rejuvenation in the state”.
Continuing, “This have motivated me to speak with the chairman of RIFAN, Chief Ntaji John; in the state to foresee and hold a PMT meeting with the main drivers of RIFAN forum in local government and our partner’s to leverage agricultural productivity and foster a sustainable growth in the State to advance agriculture”.
The Development and Finance Officer; Dr. Aniefiok A. Umoren, gives encomium to Hon. Emmanuel Anoh, National Vice President RIFAN- South South for is gigantic vision to foster and sustain agricultural productivity in the state he exordium a know your customer introduction with the state exco members for a better relationship as an introduction. Dr. Umoren further, applaud Prof. Ben Ayade establishment of the giant Rice processing mill in Cross River, he tagged the factory as the largest in Africa assuring RIFAN a strong partnership to strengthen Ayade’s agricultural advocacy.
Dr. Umoren speaking; “We are here to see how we can help support farmers in the State.
“Cross River State is blessed with a vision-oriented governor who bring about a rice processing mill and the largest in Africa i am not trying to boost and if any of you get opportunity to visit Ogoga take a tour on it, He added;
With the massive structure there’s need to be involved in rice production. However, they have been some fraudulent act between farmers and stakeholder on non repayment of loan as the farmers BVN is accessible to fish out farmers hiding inside the bush and farmers who sells our inputs as supplied, get ready to repay loan, He said.
He further assured, farmers who are transparent on loan repayment and utilization of farm inputs to benefit other agricultural input on their farm expansion. He appeal for honesty among state exco and leadership of RIFAN in the eighteen local government so as to enable a smooth ride on continuity and partnership in the state as well allow other individual’s and rural farmers to benefit from the Anchor Borrowers Program.
Emmanuel, enlightened leaders and exco members on challenges; The continuation of the Anchor Borrowers Program in the state is dependent on the loan recovery from farmers in the state”.
He said, challenge’s are meant to strengthen the program and he urged the LG leadership to correlate with the local farmers to ensure they recover farmers debt & repayment to enhance collaboration with CBN and other partnership agencies.
Hon. Emmanuel, saddle “frowned at the RIFAN LG Leadership who engaged on illicit traffic of farm inputs, request payment of ABP farmers for image capturing”.
He assured, delinquent of their removal in office irrespective of the position in the state to enhance a sustainable agriculture & CBN Anchor Borrowers Program in the state. He added, defaulter’s are on investigation by the State Security agencies.
Chief Obiolo; Yakurr RIFAN Coordinator appreciate Hon. Emmanuel Anoh for the eye opening on the Anchor Borrower Program.
He said; “I heartily appreciate the host for this meeting the former S.A to the Governor on NGO and Civil Society, Emmanuel Anoh. I am assuring you that we will recover all sold farm input in yakurr. “However, i have brief with His Royal Highness and Chieftains of Yakurr Local Government and they’re ready to collaborate with RIFAN thus bringing perpetrator to justice”. He unveiled.
T. T Takim, Branch Manager; Bank of Agriculture, acknowledged Hon. Emmanuel Anoh for his great stride having such a productive meeting with the leadership of RIFAN.
Takim speaking; “I have never seen such an organized approach of recovery loans from farmers & inputs as witnessed today”.
He added; “Infact, Most farmers are debtors to us since 2016 till date we are still seeking for revival on loan collection i hope Emmanuel Anoh will help rescue our team on recovery fund, Manager pleaded.
Hon. Emmanuel Anoh; further structured a nine (9) man strategic monitoring and strategic committee to align Ayade’s agricultural revolution, checkmate the LG agric stores rooms, unveiled fraudulent act. He expressed; the office to be multifunctional as they serves as an extension officer to abetment farmers, examine beneficiary farm and ensure there’s an increase on farmers agricultural productivity.
The committee was inaugurated by the CBN Finance and Dev. Director, Dr. Aniefiok A. Umoren.
C’river state farmers representative and leadership across the 18 local government in the state reassured a new birth of agriculture as they pledge total support to harness the agricultural potentials and sprouts the Ayade’s agricultural revolution in continuity abrading a sustainable approach under their jurisdiction and RIFAN leadership in Cross River State, Nigeria.
