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The Anchor Borrowers Agricultural Programme of the Federal Government has generated interest in Bauchi state , just as farmers in the state describe the incentives contained in the programme as ‘first of its kind’ in the history of the country.
Speaking in Bauchi on Wednesday, the farmers say that the inbuilt incentives in the programme were so tempting that they initially doubted the possibility of actual implementation.
“Apart from providing the capital for farming, all the inputs needed such as fertilizer,seeds, pesticides and even land, are also to be provided.
“As if those incentives are not enough, farmers will be assisted with buyers and insurance companies in case of misfortune,” said Hassan Madaki, Chairman of Kajitu Nsiha Farmers’ Co-operative Society in Bauchi.
Abdullahi Idris, another farmer and Public Relations Officer of the Co’operative society, said initially, he was skeptical of the programme because the incentives contained were too ‘mouthwatering’ for implementation.
“Most agricultural programmes were lofty and promising on paper but implementation was always a mirage.
“When I heard the goodies promised under the Anchor Borrowers Programme, my thinking was that it will go the same way like others programmes before it, that is paper goodies.
“But the Kebbi experience convinced me that this time around, the authorities are prepared to walk-the-talk, especially with President Buhari at the helm of affairs,” he said.
According to him, in the past,even providing enough fertilizer to farmers as at when due could not be accomplished, adding that this time, government appears to be determined to succeed.
Ibrahim Dallaje, a civil servant with a federal establishment who picked interest in the programme as a result of the aggressive enlightenment activities embarked upon by the Bauchi State Committee on the Anchor Borrowers Programme, told NAN that he had initially dismissed the initiative as one of those ‘exercises’ on paper.
“When the ‘noise’ about the programme over the radio became too much, I decided to give it attention, only to discover that the Anchor Borrowers Programme is not only ‘farmers-friendly, but also ‘civil servants- friendly”.
“The incentives are so tempting that I cannot resist giving it a trial and I have started the process. Some other civil servants are also thinking of doing same,” he said.
Haruna Saidu, a rice farmer in Tirwun village in the outskirt of Bauchi metropolis, lauded the decision by the state government to settle the interest on the loan to be granted participants in the programme.
Other farmers who talked to NAN, namely Ibrahim Hassan, Umaru Adamu, Umaru Baba and Ibrahim Hassan, urged the Federal Government to sustain the programme.
They said with proper implementation, the Anchor Borrowers Programme held the key to the nation’s self-sufficiency in food production.
NAN reports that the full implementation of the programme in Bauchi state commences from the current dry season farming and interested farmers are busy trying to complete the formality that will enable them participate.
