Food Security: RIFAN affirms Federal Government’s interventions boost farmers’ capacity

*The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria explains the intervention programme by the Central Bank of Nigeria has increased the number of cropping seasons for farmers, thereby boosting food production and sufficiency for consumers in the country

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) intervention programme in the agricultural sector of the country’s economy has increased the number of cropping seasons, thereby boosting food production in the country.

ConsumerConnect gathered Aminu Goronyo, President of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), who disclosed this development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, in Abuja, FCT, said the CBN’s Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) had enhanced capacity of Nigerian farmers towards attaining food security in the economy.

Goronyo apparently spoke against the backdrop of the recent unveiling of mega rice pyramids by the Bankers’ Bank and RIFAN, in Abuja.

The RIFAN Chief also explained that the intervention programme by the CBN had increased the number of cropping seasons for farmers, resulting in boosting food production for Nigerian consumers.

He stated: “Before now we had one cropping season, which was the wet season. Farmers were not cultivating during the dry season.

“But now, with the support of the CBN through the ABP, we can do two dry season farming with one wet season farming, making three,’’ he said.

The RIFAN President explained that the rice on display in the pyramids was appropriated as loan repayment to the CBN by beneficiaries of the ABP.

Goronyo further said: “The right thing is to hand it over to the CBN that funded the project so that they will sell it to integrated rice millers and small-scale rice millers at a subsided rate.

“This will ensure that the final consumer is able to buy rice at an affordable price.”

According to him, unveiling of the rice pyramids was an indication that Nigeria is becoming self-sufficient in food production.

“It will build confidence in Nigerians that we can now grow what we eat. We have more than enough to eat that we no longer need foreign rice,’’ Goronyo said.