At least 120,000 rice farmers are to receive loan in Taraba state under the federal government’s Anchor Borrower’s programme for 2019 wet farming season.
The Acting chairman of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Taraba state branch, Mallam Tanko Bobbo Andami disclosed this in an interview with North East Trust.
He said famers in Lau, Yorro, Zing, Karim-Lamido, Gassol, Bali, Jalingo, Ibbi and Ardo-Kola local government areas are to benefit from the loan.
The chairman explained that 120,000 rice farmers were targeted in the state because of available land suitable for rice production in most of the local government areas.
Mallam Tanko said already processing of the loan disbursement had commenced.
The chairman said improved rice seed, fertilizer and insecticides would be given to farmers as part of the loan scheme.
He urged the beneficiaries to utilize the facility properly, adding that they are expected to repay the loan immediately after harvest.
The chairman also disclosed that a seven-man committee was set up to recover similar facility granted to 3383 farmers in the state for 2018 and 2019 wet and dry season farming in the state.
He urged beneficiaries to always be prompt in repayment to enable others benefit from the loan scheme.
Malam Tanko said that since the introduction of federal government rice production programme more people, including women were attracted into farming thereby increasing rice production in the state.
