146,557 farmers across 21 states in Nigeria have received a total sum of N33.34bn from the CBN, under its Anchor Borrowers’ Programme.
According to the apex bank, farmers who accessed the facility had started repaying the loans.
Out of the total amount of N33.34bn so far released, about N15.13bn disbursed to 73,941 farmers in Kebbi State had fallen due for repayment, with N7.11bn or 47 per cent of the amount repaid and returned to the CBN.
The apex bank said the balance of N18.20bn of the 12-month tenured loans released to farmers in the other 20 states for wet and dry season farming had not fallen due for repayment.
It said farmers in other benefiting states had also commenced repayment to the tune of N1.238bn.
Details of the loan disbursement and repayment indicate that as of March 31, 2017, a total sum of N33.34bn had been released through 12 participating finance institutions in respect of 146,557 farmers across 21 states, cultivating over 180,018 hectares of land.
The CBN noted that efforts were currently being made by the participating state governments to ensure that all outstanding loans were repaid by the farmers as soon as they were due before the commencement of the next dry season farming season.
This, it added, was to enable the CBN extend similar gestures to farmers in other states, which had indicated interest in participating in the ABP.
