Cocoa, Plantain Farmers Demand Inclusion Into CBN Intervention Funds 

Cocoa and plantain farmers have decried the exemption of their produce from the Federal Government’s agricultural support programs such as the Anchor Borrowers Scheme.

The National President of the Cocoa and Plantain Farmers of Nigeria, Ayodele Ojo, who led a delegation to the Ministry of Agriculture in Abuja, noted that while commodities like maize, rice, cassava, cotton, vegetable, cocoa received support under the Anchor Borrower’s Programme, the plantain commodity has been repeatedly excluded.

He said, “It amazed us as an association of farmers that have been consistently working to produce plantain and cocoa in large quantities that we were left out of the anchor borrowers’ programme and CARES Project.

“We have well above 28,000 members in 20 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Presently we have more than 20,000 hectares of farm cultivated and a potential to cultivate more than 50,000 hectares if adequately supported.”

Speaking further, Ojo explained that plantain value chain, if well harnessed is capable of tackling the unemployment challenges in the country.

He stated that the plantain value chain has remained a major contributor to the Gross Domestic Product of Nigeria.

Ojo added, “It has also come to our notice that the CARES Project that is in the pipeline also excludes plantain and cocoa commodities.

“Moreover, many developed nations of the world source for raw materials from Africa and among the crops that attract the highest demand are plantain and cocoa.

“The farmers need support not only in the production but in expansion and enabling the farmers to meet the international market standards and forms of the crops when exported.

“There are infrastructure and technologies that are capital intensive and are beyond the reach of farmers, hence the need for the inclusion of the plantain farmers in the anchor borrowers’ programme.”

Plantain in Nigeria is grown in Ondo, Taraba, Cross River, Osun, Kogi, Akwa Ibom, Ekiti, Ogun, Edo, Adamawa, Abia, Oyo, Delta, Kwara, Imo, Benue, Niger, FCT, Kaduna, Lagos and Plateau States.

The CARES project is designed to help farmers return to the farm to guide against food shortages that might result from the adverse effects of COVID-19 pandemic in the nearest future.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Muhammad Sabo Nanono, in his remarks pledged to revive the development of cocoa and continuous support to Horticulture Industry in Nigeria.

The Minister urged the associations to strengthen its members, be more proactive and enlighten them to attract medium-term facilities for the development of Cocoa and production of palm oil.