The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, under the Anchor Borrowers Programme started the distribution of one hundred and twenty thousands bags of fertiliser to over five hundred Bayelsa state Farmers as they expect more distribution to come in days.
Ezekiel Ogbianko, State chairman of rice farmers while receiving the NPK thanked the Federal Government for the initiative, saying that with the timely distribution of the inputs, the farmers were now looking forward to a successful farming season.
Expressing with joy, he said “The association has acquired massive land in all the eight local government areas for the sole purpose of rice farming.
“Out of 40,000 hectares of land that we have acquired, we are working on 20,000 hectares right now in Opotuwari and Ondewari communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. Here, we have 120,000 bags of NPK fertiliser and more are still coming, we also have chemicals and other farm inputs.
While stressing the number of members the organization has, the chairman made a call to other farmers who were yet to join to do so, in order to be trained and have the opportunity to be part of the work that is to come.
“We still need more farmers to register with us, so that we can send them for training to empower them to manage these farms. Our aim is to flood the local markets with rice grown here in Bayelsa and export same beyond the shores of the state. We are sure of the positive impact this project will have on our local communities across the state, as jobs will be created massively to engage our youths.”
Corroborating the chairman’s expression was the CBN Head of Development Finance, Yenagoa Branch, Mr. Oryeigha Stanley, who said “For this year 2018, we are going to run two planting seasons but hopefully, by next year, we are going to run three seasons. We want to solicit your support and also advise that the inputs be used specifically for the purpose,”
Adding that more distributions were still to come and particularly for the wet season.