By Abdallah el-Kurebe
ASHENEWS reports that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has disclosed that the country spends N2 billion for the importation of wheat annually.
The Sokoto CBN branch manager, Faruk Abdullahi stated this during the Wheat Farmers Green Field Day, on Tuesday.
The field day is an annual event organised by the Flour Milling Association of Nigeria (FMAN), with membership including Food and Agro-Allied Group, Northern Nigeria Flour Mills Plc, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Olam Grains, Dufil, and Seaboard West Africa Ltd.
While commending FMAN for sustaining the annual event, the CBN added that wheat farming undertaken by Nigerian farmers, will curb spending on the import of the product.
The National Programme Manager of FMAN, Dr. Aliyu Samaila a total of 114,000 hectares was cultivated in 16 states.
Also speaking, the chairman of Sokoto state chapter of the association, Muhammadu Mahe Marafa, who was represented by the Secretary, Yusuf Muhammad, said N200 million, as well as 2,400 bags of wheat, were recovered from loans given to its members.
He called on all wheat farmers that were yet to, pay up the loans they are owed.
The Permanent Secretary of Sokoto State Ministry of Agriculture, who was represented by the Director of Administration, Muhammad Abubakar Bello commended FMAN, and pledged the state government’s continued support.
Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of stakeholders including, the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Sow Agritech Seed, and the Sokoto Agricultural Development Project.
