29th June, 2014
The Cassava Farmers Cooperative Union (BCFCU) in Borno, on Sunday, said it had entered into an agreement with Union Bank Plc toward boosting cassava production in the state.
President of BCFCU, Alhaji Al-amin Umara, made the disclosure when he received the Zonal Agriculture Manager of the bank, Malam Sani Kabara, in his office in Maiduguri.
Umara said the partnership was initiated under the Nigerian Incentive Based Risk Sharing for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL).
He added that the partnership would allow cassava farmers in Borno to access loans payable in four years to boost their production.
He noted that the union, which had more than 50,000 cassava farmers in the state had also concluded arrangements to train 150 female farmers to be drawn from three local government areas of the state in cassava processing.
“We are working on a plan to train 150 women to be drawn from Kukawa, Nganzai and Bayo local government areas in cassava processing,” the union president added.
Responding, Kabara commended the union for the efforts in enhancing cassava production in the state.
He congratulated the union for excelling at the National Agricultural Show in Lafia, Nasawara State, where it bagged the overall second position in the show.