By Chineze Onukwuba
Farmers under Awka South Local Government Area were educated on how to open accounts with the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) during a seminar held at the council’s headquarters.
The Mayor of Awka South, Prince Chinedu Okafor, represented by Mr. Nwumeh Chukwuebuka, the supervisor for agriculture urged farmers to pay close attention to the seminar. He stressed that the knowledge which they will garner from the session would be of immense benefit to them.
Engr Abiakam Franklin, from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, who is also the Desk Officer on National Agriculture on Growth Scheme (NAGS) and Agro-Pocket, explained that the scheme, inaugurated in May 2023, is now in its second phase. That, it is a national programme co-financed by African Development Bank (AFDB) and supported by the Federal Government.
The initiative provides subsidized farm inputs such as fertilizers to enhance food production and security, targeting staple crops; including wheat, rice, soyabean and cassava. Also, the seminar is to ensure that farmers receive inputs promptly during wet and dry seasons.
He emphasized that registered farmers’ names would be forwarded to their headquarters for processing ahead of the wet season, which is already approaching.
Engr Abiakam, further noted that the program aims to make sure farmers obtain their BOA account numbers through their mobile phones, which would enable them to access inputs, such as fertilizers, maize, agrochemicals, and other government-provided resources to boost productivity.
In her remarks, Mrs. Josephine Obiegbunam, Head of the Department of Agriculture, showed appreciation that many farmers within the local government area attended the seminar. She expressed gratitude to Mayor Okafor for encouraging such initiatives which ensure that farmers in Awka South benefit from every available Government’s Agricultural subvention.
Chineze is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
