Soybeans farmers, input suppliers and financial institutions have met in Abuja at a stakeholder meeting for the purpose of kick-starting the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrowers’ programme for this cropping season. Professor Nafiu Abdu, the National President of the Soybeans Farmers Association of Nigeria (SOFAN), a seed system expert, said the farmers were now organized in order to take advantage of the growing demand of soybeans not only in Nigeria but also elsewhere in Asia and other parts of the world.

The meeting was attended by the Managing Director of Bank of Agriculture, Kabiru Mohammed, officials of CBN, Sterling Bank, Unity Bank, NAIC, and seed producers like premier Seed, spring field and other actors. “Currently, we have registered 200,000 farmers in the association for the 2019 cropping season. With each farmer cultivating at least two hectares, this will be 400,000 with an estimated yield of 1million at an average yield of 2.5 tonnes per hectare,’’ he said.

The agric expert who has managed many agric programmes at home and abroad is the brain behind the formation of the association after working on many projects including cowpea at home and abroad. Soybeans is one of the most important crops in the world and among the major industrial food crop grown in Nigeria. It is widely cultivated in many states in Nigerian due to its extensive value chain and contribution to food and animal feed production. Nigeria is the largest producer of soya beans in sub-Sahara Africa and the producing states include Benue, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kebbi, Kwara, Jigawa Katsina, Borno, Kano, Zamfara,  Gombe and Abuja including some parts of the south-west.

SOURCE:DAILY TRUST