By Ado Hassan, Sokoto
TO ensure the success of the anchor borrower scheme drive, Coalition of input suppliers to the federal government initiative has appealed to participating organs to fulfil their respective engagement responsibilities.
It noted that by owning up, would further facilitate maximum the goal of the scheme.
According to spokesman of the Coalition, Alhaji Umar Isa-Funtua who made the appeal while speaking to reporters in Sokoto, described the programme as meaningful, successful and empowering.
Alhaji Isa Funtua also commended President Muhammadu Buhari led government for driving the economy of the country to an impacting positive level through the various human oriented initiatives.
” The anchor borrower schemes have benefited Nigerians in many forms in terms of employment generation, economic growth, food security, improving internal security and healthy living of citizens”, he noted.
Isa-Funtua who is also member of National Association of Input Suppliers and Merchants said the anchor borrower schemes have benefited Nigerians in many forms in terms of employment generation, economic growth, food security, improving internal security and healthy living of citizens.
According to the spokesperson who is also a member of the National Association of Input Suppliers and Merchants, the population of people northern people going to southern parts has drastically reduced due to economic value chains the scheme has provided.
” The scheme provided jobs for small scale farmers that constituted high percentage because they cultivated vast farmlands and sell the harvested food items to immediate communities for onward consumption.
“They also provide raw materials to up takers for various purposes which is different to large scale farmers that at times feed large scale companies.
” Importation of rice and other food items have reduced which assisted nation economic recovery and people health as many imported foods are counterfeits or expired” Isa-Funtua said.
“If you sum up the number of benefiting farmers and farmlands they cultivate various speacie of crops at different geographical locations, the achievement us quite interesting.
” After the programme was launched in Kebbi state, it covers all parts of Nigeria and encouraged individual and corporate participation as at present different companies and private individuals cue and provide anchor borrower loans to farmers besides government scheme” Isa added.
Though, he complained that in spite of the achievements it brought to Nigerians, some hiccups or challenges in some areas of implementation were attributed to participating organs in the chain while appealing to participating organs to live up to the expectations by abiding to stipulated performance for all areas and segments for smooth operations.
According to him, many stakeholders as well commercial banks and programme managers were far living below expectation which endangers the smooth continuity of the scheme.
He observed that programme mangers usually refused to process relevant documents and data while commercial banks either refused to pay input suppliers as when due or withdrew from the scheme at final stage.
“This action had caused loss to many inputs suppliers because most the funds use are revolving and many that have bank loans suffered various forms of hardships.
” We are appealing to President Buhari, Minister of Agriculture and other regulatory bodies to investigate each organ commitment in order to strengthened the policy.” Isa said.
In the same vein, Isa Funtua added that Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria (MAAN), Cotton Farmers Association and many others have ensured mass commitment of their members.
He explained that crops were being cultivated on sessional basis, “so there is no need of overlapping on unnecessary delay in payments and distribution at whole.”
