The Abia State Dry season maize farmers who are beneficiaries of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) grant to farmers in Abia ,have cried out to Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu to come to their aid. In an open letter written to the executive Governor of Abia and signed by Comrade Okorie,O.K, the farmers stated that in the second quarter of this year(2020), the CBN through the Abia State ADP called for applicants to apply for Dry Season Maize. To this call thousands of Abians applied. Successful applicants were asked through SMS to register with the farmers organisation and open an account with the Unity Bank, which they complied with.
According to Mr Okorie, by around first week of August, 2020 the ADP Programme Manager called on the organizers to commence the sharing of the inputs which according to him have been in the warehouse for weeks.He said Following that call, the applicants were invited to the Abia State Ministry of Agriculture to take delivery of their inputs.
He said sadly, till the time of his open letter to the governor, the other approved equipment such as knapsack and cash have not been made available to the farmers. Mr Okorie opined that farmers are worried not only because some agents of the Farmers Organization are calling to know the progress of work done by the farmers, who they have failed to give the approved cash and other equipment’s already approved for the programme by the CBN but that what happened to Abia State Rice farmers in 2018 is about to repeat itself.
He alleged that In 2018 Abia Rice Farmers who were organised in different clusters under FADAMA III programme were denied grants approved for them.He frowned at attitude of agencies in Abia State of not being diligent in agricultural programmes to the best interest of the State and her citizens.
Mr Okorie,stated that he is therefore using his open letter to call on the Governor of Abia State, HE Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu to intervene on behalf of the farmers and let the office in charge of the distribution of the inputs release whatever that is due to the farmers to enable them join other farmers nationwide to boost the production of maize.
He said that “It is sad that same agency that have delayed the final distribution are calling the farmers to know whether they have harvested or not” he alleged that this another ploy of intimidating the farmers as to be able to divert the funds for that program.He therefore prayed on behalf of the farmers for the remaining materials and fund be released to them to enable them put the inputs into use by the next farming season.
READ FULL LETTER;
OPEN LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR – DR. OKEZIE VICTOR IKPEAZU
23rd November, 2020.
Our Dear Governor,
Re: CBN ANCHOR BORROWERS GRANT FOR MAIZE PRODUCTION…
About the second quarter of the year, the CBN through the Abia State ADP called for applicants to apply for Dry Season Maize. To this call thousands of Abians applied.
Successful applicants were asked through SMS to register with the farmers organisation and open an account with the Unity Bank, which they complied with.
By around first week of August, 2020 the ADP Programme Manager called on the organisers to commence the sharing of the inputs which according to him have been in the warehouse for weeks.
Following that call, the applicants were invited to the Abia State Ministry of Agriculture to take delivery of their inputs.
Recall that the Dry Season Maize programme was targeted at first and second week of August and whereas the inputs were distributed to the farmers between the first and last week of August, 2020.
Sadly till this date of writing, the other approved equipment such as knapsack and cash have not been made available to the farmers.
The farmers are worried not only because some agents of the Farmers Organization are calling to know the progress of work done by the farmers, who they have failed to give the approved cash etc already approved for the programme by the CBN but that what happened to Abia State Rice farmers in 2018 is about to repeat itself.
In 2018 Abia Rice Farmers who were organised in different clusters under FADAMA III programme were denied grants approved for them.
This attitude of agencies in Abia State of not being diligent in agricultural programmes is not to the best interest of the State and her citizens.
I therefore humbly call on the Governor HE Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu to intervene on behalf of the farmers and let the office in charge of the distribution of the inputs release whatever that is due to the farmers to enable them join other farmers nationwide to boost the production of maize.
It is sad that same agency that have delayed the final distribution are calling the farmers to know whether they have harvested or not; another ploy of intimidating the farmers as to be able to divert the funds for that program.
The farmers therefore pray that the remaining materials and fund be released to them to enable them put the inputs into use by next farming season.
Thanking you Our Dear Governor for an anticipated action on this.
Sincerely Yours,
Okorie, O. K.
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