Anchor borrower: Suspension won’t affect farming activities – Kano AFAN

The Kano chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has expressed confidence that the suspension of the federal government’s anchor borrower programme will not hinder farming activities in the state. 

According to AFAN State Chapter Chairman Abdulrasheed Magaji Rimingado, the program’s failure to recognise real farmers has already rendered its purpose ineffective. He emphasized that the state’s farming achievements have largely been driven by individual commitment and other organisational interventions, rather than the anchor borrower initiative.

Rimingado highlighted that real farmers have adapted by exploring alternative avenues to support farming activities, particularly during the dry season. Notably, AFAN in Kano is collaborating with a commercial bank to finance this year’s dry season farming using a similar model to the anchor borrower, which has proven successful.

Similarly, Alhaji Sani Danladi Yadakwari, the state chairman of Tomato Growers Association of Nigeria (TOGAN), noted that tomato farmers have only accessed the anchor borrower program for two years, following which the program ceased for tomato farmers. He alleged that even during their participation, real tomato farmers constituted only 20 percent of the beneficiaries, with the aggregation component receiving the largest share.

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The recent suspension of the anchor borrower program, along with other agricultural interventions introduced under the former CBN governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, was announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Despite this development, Kano AFAN and tomato farmers remain resilient, ensuring uninterrupted farming activities in the state.