By Usamaah Saadatu Hajiya Abuja
Th e Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture (BoA), Kabir Adamu has resolved to register 15 million farmers in the coming years by partnering with relevant agencies to open branches in all local government areas to ensure it meets the target. Th e MD stated this while sealing a deal with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to deepen public sensitization on the Anchor Borrowers policy for better results in agricultural sector.
Adamu, however stressed that loans to farmers were not gifts, hence the need for them to repay in order to facilitate access to loans by other farmers. Th e BOA boss noted that his bank’s nonperforming loans were below 10 percent, better than the Central Bank of Nigeria standard of 70 percent.
He however, appealed to corporate Nigeria to partner with the bank in the area of funding in line with global best practices and in the spirit of patriotism. On his part, the Director General of NOA, Dr Garba Abari, stated the need for robust public enlightenment on various government policies. According to him, government had shown the necessary political will to reposition Agriculture as an alternative foreign exchange earner to crude oil.
He added that both institutions have the relevant platforms to reposition Agriculture and make widespread impact in the country
