CBN, Maize Association Kickoff 2021/2022 Dry Season Farming in Gombe

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN) have kicked off the 2021/2022 dry season farming in Gombe State.
Speaking at the lunch of the initiative in Yamaltu/Deba Local Council of the state on Tuesday, Head, CBN’s Development and Finance Office, Abdullahi Baba-Isa, said the Federal Government’s intervention in maize farming had yielded impressive results and should be sustained.
According to him, the CBN’s intervention was to harness Nigeria’s potential in the agriculture sector, conserve foreign exchange, boost food availability and reduce unemployment among youths while discouraging food importation.
Speaking about the 2021 wet season farming, Baba-Isa noted that over 4,000 hectares were cultivated under the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) in Gombe, and about six to seven bags per hectare were expected.
Also, the apex bank’s official urged farmers to key into the government’s initiatives towards self-sufficiency in food production.
On his part, the President of MAAN, Dr Bello Abubakar, said the event was proof of the Federal Government’s investment in the agriculture sector and towards promoting all-year-round farming to boost food security in the country.
According to him, over 2,000 maize farmers are benefitting from the CBN ABP in the State.
He said, “As of 2015, our yearly maize production was eight million tonnes but in 2020, we recorded 20 million tonnes. That’s an increase of 12 million tonnes. This is impressive as far as MAAN is concerned.”
“This is why during the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic, from 2019 to 2020, when the world shut their borders, we were able to feed ourselves.”

Agro Nigeria