Adamu Hassan,Abuja
Some maize farmers in Chanchaga, Niger State have faulted the loan template given by the Niger State chapter of Maize Association of Nigeria claiming that it was not in line with the provisions of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrowers scheme.
Speaking on behalf of aggrieved members yesterday, Usman Kwatu who is also chairman of Soya Beans Farmers Association said conditions attached to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Anchor Borrowers scheme for members for the 2020 farming season was doctored and not realisable.
The farmers in a brief protest yesterday after the pre- distribution of materials/ inputs meeting for the beneficiaries in Minna, questioned why they were asked to deposit N3,000 each in Unity Bank for logistics even as they were the ones seeking for loan.
According to Alhaji Kwatu, 91 out of 143 beneficiaries vehemently rejected the offers due to conditions
that also included repayment with farm produce of 30 bags per hectare.
He also frowned at the condition that stipulated that each of the beneficiaries must swore to affidavit in court to ensure the repayment with just total loan package of N166,000 per hectare in form of supply of fertiliser, herbicides, seeds and others under EOP without cash.
He said, “The conditions is unacceptable and we condemn the entire process, farmers can’t meet up with the demands with this current template as prices of the items are not in consonance with the reality.”