Asaba: Against recent media report, the Chairman, Project Monitoring Team of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Asaba branch, Mr Matthew Badaiki Monday said that the Federal Government did not flagged off distribution of agricultural inputs to rice farmers under the apex bank Anchor Borrowers Programme in Delta state.
Chatting with the Vanguard in his office, Badaiki, disclosed that he did not flag off the programme, explaining that he does not have the power to do so as reported.
According to him, “the monitoring team only commenced verification and distribution of 60 kg rice seedling inputs to 24 certified farmers in Ugiliamai, Ndokwa West Local Government Area with a proviso of repayment in six months upon harvest.
“The 60kg rice seedling was supplied by the inputs supplier Raymos Guanah farms to members of Ike Neli farmers’ multipurpose cooperative society after a strenuous verification exercise by the team.
“The clarification exercise of farmers is to ensure that the beneficiaries of the program are genuine farmers and those who are not farmers should desist from participating as their signatures and photographs will be used to track everyone who benefits from the programme”.
While urging the beneficiaries to embrace the programme with all seriousness, he said that” the programme should not be seen as political settlement. Inputs expected to be supplied are rice seedlings, fertilizers and chemicals”.
