Maize farmers set to cultivate 400,000 hectares for dry season

The Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN) says it is now set to commence the 2020/2021 dry season farming with a target to cultivate about 400,000 hectares in twenty-two states across Nigeria to ensure availability of maize all year around in the country to bridge whatever deficit there is.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government in September 2020 placed a ban on the importation of maize which led to an increase in demand from local farmers and a reassurance of government patronage.

And in order to bridge the deficit occasioned by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, recent floods and drought in some parts of the country on farming activities, MAAN is commencing 20/21 dry season farming at commercial level to scale up production.

The President MAAN Dr. Bello Abubakar Annoor in an interview with journalist said the association had planned a grand flag-off of the 2020/2021 dry season farming and 2020 wet season loan aggregation in Funtua Local of Katsina state but had to cancel in order to show support for the state and federal government and also empathise with the families involved on the unfortunate incident of the abduction of the school children in Kankara, Katsina state.

Dr. Abubakar Annoor said the 2020/2021 dry season farming is being supported and funded by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Anchor Borrowers’ programme and it will be the first time the apex bank under the programme would be supporting dry season maize farming in the country adding that the dry season farming which was a directive by President Muhammadu Buhari would also be a major boost to maize availability in the country

“The association hopes that with the effort that was put into maize farming in the 2020 wet season by the farmers and the government, there would be no needs for any form of maize importation come 2021 as availability is assured” he added

He called on maize millers (feed millers) and other processors to join hands with MAAN to ensure synergy for betterment of everyone as maize farmers are making conscious efforts for quality assurance.

On the issue of aflatoxin contamination Dr. Abubakar said MAAN has ensured that aflasafe was used in order to prevent an aflatoxin contamination which is one of the major issues millers raised.

In relation to 2020 wet season loan aggregation and recovery by MAAN and CBN; he said MAAN has also commenced the repayment by members with way over 33,000 of 100kg bags of maize stacked in maize pyramids.

He noted that the CBN is also ready to fund the dry season farming the moment the statistics are taken care of.

On the reopening of 4 land borders by the federal government, the President said the association wishes to appeal to the Federal government that despite the reopening of land borders, the government should maintain their position on maize importation and not grant forex for maize import into the country.

Dr. Abubakar said maize farmers sincerely appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari and the Central Bank of Nigeria for their immense support to maize farmers in the country and we assure Mr. President that this support won’t be taken for granted as maize farmers all around the country would work assiduously to ensure maize is available in the country.