ABP: NIRSAL empowers 475 female cassava farmers in Uyo
The Eagle Online by The Eagle Online August 5, 20203 min read
NIRSAL
In adherence to the principles of all-inclusive growth, the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending Plc is empowering 475 female farmers in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State for cassava production during the 2020 wet season farming.

According to its Agro Geo-Cooperative model, NIRSAL Plc structured the farmers into a group which was aptly named the Uyo Women Agro Geo-Cooperative.



Thereafter, the 475 female farmers were trained on Good Agronomic Practices and received various inputs for their use.

In addition, all 478 hectares of land will be mechanised throughout the planting season to enhance yields and profits and eliminate the drudgery of farming with crude implements.

Furthermore, members of the Uyo Women AGC will receive finance through the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme for which NIRSAL Plc is playing a critical role as a Participating Financial Institution in ensuring that the CBN’s and indeed the Federal Government’s developmental and economic diversification goals are met.

To officialise activities, NIRSAL Plc flagged-off the distribution of inputs to the farmers during a ceremony held at Anang People Primary School, Obio Ndot, Oruk Anam LGA of Akwa Ibom State, where Theresa Thompson Akpan, the President of the Uyo Women AGC, described the CBN’s support through NIRSAL as a milestone in enhancing cassava production in the state.

Akpan tasked farmers under the Uyo Women AGC to embrace NRSAL Plc’s approach of farming as a business in order to move from peasant farming to sustainable agribusiness.



She thanked NIRSAL Plc for harnessing the female farmers’ potential and its continued support of agribusiness in Akwa Ibom State.

Speaking through Helen Akula, the Head of NIRSAL Plc’s Akwa Ibom State Project Monitoring, Reporting and Remediation Office, Aliyu Abdulhameed, the organization’s Managing Director/CEO, noted that NIRSAL Plc’s support of Uyo Women AGC will not only empower the 475 farmers of the AGC, but create jobs for many families in the community, thereby achieving its mission of forging partnerships between finance and agriculture, while achieving food security, creating jobs and spurring economic growth.

Abdulhameed added that through the ABP, the farmers’ door to commercial financing had been unlocked, thereby paving the way for a better-quality life.

He however reminded the farmers that “the input you received today is not a grant but a loan that must be paid back for other farmers to also benefit from.

“I have faith in you all that together as a team every kobo will be repaid with ample profit left in the bank for you to enjoy the fruits of your labour.”

Also speaking at the event, Desmond Ushe, the Acting Head of the CBN’s Akwa Ibom State Development Finance Office, noted that with the integration of NIRSAL’s AGC concept, risks will be reduced significantly, and the participation of farmers in the ABP would be boosted.

Ushe solicited for sincerity and commitment from the farmers to match that of Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the CBN, whom he said possesses the utmost passion for the ABP and for economic growth through agriculture.

The event in Akwa Ibom fits into NIRSAL Plc’s regional and nationwide support for farmers under the ABP.

A total of 2,872 rice, maize and cassava farmers belonging to Uyo Women AGC, Pemo Anegbette AGC, Upalibuisi AGC, Southern Basin AGC, Integrated AGC, Ijeoma Aibiokula AGC, Green Money Initiative AGC and God’s Own AGC are receiving NIRSAL’s support in the South-South states of Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta States, while a total of 44,670 farmers cultivating on 68,771 hectares of land are benefiting nationwide.

It may be recalled that rice, maize, cassava, sesame and soybean farmers in Nasarawa, Niger, Kogi States and the FCT were recently positioned for an increase in yields and improvement in livelihoods following NIRSAL Plc’s support for their 2020 wet season farming activities also under the ABP.

https://theeagleonline.com.ng/abp-nirsal-empowers-475-female-cassava-farmers-in-uyo/

Mynd44, Lalasticlala, seun...

The state economy is really moving gradually from a mono economy to other options

Hunchogee:
The state economy is really moving gradually from a mono economy to other options

Yeah bro, that's the target

Diversify into agro products. That is good. Ekpan kukwo on my mind when i visit Uyo.

sageb:
Diversify into agro products. That is good. Ekpan kukwo on my mind when i visit Uyo.

Hahahahhaha... You like the food right?

I think this Nirsal is doing well. They should handle the disbursement of empowerment funds meant for the common Nigerians. Commercial banks should not be allowed to handle empowerment and intervention funds anymore.

Divoc:
I think this Nirsal is doing well. They should handle the disbursement of empowerment funds meant for the common Nigerians. Commercial banks should not be allowed to handle empowerment and intervention funds anymore.

Same here, they are the best to me

Nice, this is really good

Corroro:
Nice, this is really good

Yes oo