Sadiq Bindawa
July 20, 2022 - 08:11:13 pm
3 Katsina Farmers wins CBN's Best Farmer Award under ACGSF for 2021
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has rewarded three farmers who emerged as the winners for the Best Farmer Award for Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) for the year 2021 in Katsina state.
Katsina Post reported that Halliru Mohammed Gozaki who emerged as the 1st position winner went home with N100, 000 reward, the 2nd Position winner Hamisu Abdullahi received N75, 000 cash award, while Abdullahi Nuhu Gide, a 3rd position winner went home with N50, 000 cash, along with certificates issued to the winners.
While presenting the award at the event held at CBN, Katsina Branch, the Branch Controller, Alhaji Ahmed Musa Ladan explained that ACGSF Best Farmer Award serves as an avenue for rewarding, supporting, and encouraging farmers who exhibited good agronomic practices and prompt repayment of loans.
He further revealed that the CBN, under leadership of Mr. Godwin Emeifele, introduced the award as part of the plans to inculcate competitive spirit among farmers with a view to increasing patronage of CBN schemes and Programmes.
Alhaji Ahmed Ladan stated that in the 2021 edition of the competition, the winner emerged after assessment based on selection criteria which include Loan Utilisation and servicing, productivity, employment opportunity generated, record keeping, loan history, and membership with apex commodity association.
According to him, the award winners were selected based on excellent performance, through a state selection committee with the representatives drawn from the entire stakeholder institutions.
He however appealed to the Deposit Money Banks to embrace ACGSF passionately so as to get the required boost.
“At this juncture, I wish to use this opportunity to appeal to the Deposit Money Banks (DMB) to embrace this scheme passionately so as for it to get the required boost. There is really need for the DMB’s to contribute their quota in the development of the Agricultural sector considering its immeasurable contribution to the overall economy.” He said
He finally solicited for the continuous support and participation of the state governments in the trust Fund Model under the scheme and indeed other CBN Interventions/Programs.
Also speaking, the Special Assistant on Agriculture to Governor of Katsina state, Dr. Abba Y. Abdullahi commend President Muhammad Buhari for his political will and policies toward promoting agriculture production and development in Nigeria.
He added that the President Buhari’s policy on agricultures made it possible for Nigeria to attained food sufficiency and overall agricultural development.
He applauds CBN and Federal government for bringing up the initiative that support farmers and farming activities, in order to attain food security and industrialization.
He enjoined the farmers to harness the CBN by utilizing all it credit facilities especially the ACGSF and Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP).
Hamisu Abdullahi who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries thank the Board of Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme for organizing the event.
He expressed his gratitude to the CBN and the LAPO Microfinance bank and other stakeholders for the initiative, saying it had encourage the farmers boost finance and help the farmers to access to more credible finance.
The highlight of the event include the presentation of award of excellence to Hinache Microfinance Bank Malumfashi as Best performing Participating financial institution under the ACGSF in Katsina.
The event has in attendance the branch manager Bank of Agriculture (BOA), The Branch Manager NAIC, representative of Nirsal Plc, Nirsal MFB from Katsina and Daura, The state chairmen RIFAN, NACOTAN, Managing Directors Micro Finance Banks from Katsina, Malumfashi and Funtua, Among other stakeholders.
