Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria on Monday, in Katsina, said that Nigeria has produced no fewer than 20 million tonnes of maize in the year 2021.
The National President of the Association, Alhaji Bello Abubakar, disclosed this when he led its members on a courtesy visit to the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumin Kabir.
According to him, before he resumed office as the National President of the association in 2015, Nigerian maize farmers were producing only eight million tons.
“After my election in 2015, within that period to date, the production had increased with about 12 million tonnes, making it 20 million tonnes.
“With this development, the maize production in Nigeria has increased, saying that this was achieved through the effort of the association for introducing the farmers to the modern farming system.
“They have learned what is called mechanisation, from the beginning to cultivation through the use of machines,” he said.
He explained that no fewer than 500,000 maize farmers have benefited from the Anchor Borrower Support nationwide, adding that in Katsina, about 80,000 benefited.
According to him, the aim of their visit to the palace was to seek more support from the Emir, and also engage traditional leaders in the anchor borrower programme, so that farmers at the grassroot level can benefit.
In his response, the Emir commended their efforts towards supporting the farmers in Nigeria, calling on them to be formidable and not to allow politicians to spoil the programme.
He also called on them to try not to allow the corrupted people to have access to the association to avoid politicising the programme.
According to him, if such happened, the right farmers may not benefit with anything, especially now that insecurity has become a great threat to farmers in the Northeast.
He added that, “the issue of insecurity has become a serious threat to the agricultural sector, but notwithstanding, we have to eat. Therefore, we have to work hard.”
