Anchor
Borrowers Programme (ABP)
....this
is an initiative by CBN aimed at increasing local production, supply of
feedstock to processors of commodities, reduce import bills and conserve
foreign reserves. Under the Scheme Anchor Companies (Processors) will work with
Out-growers involved in production. The finance model will involve the Anchor
Firms, CBN and NDE will organize the Out-growers and ensure that they comply
with contractual terms agreed at a Stakeholders town hall meeting.
....the
NDE will be the Platform through which small-holder farmers (Out-growers) participating
as registered Co-operatives are organized into clusters and linked to anchor
firms.
NDE's Role is to
......Identify a Commodity in which the
State has comparative advantage;
Register small-holder farmers into Co-operatives;
Register the co-operatives (if not
already done);
Organize the registered Co-operatives
by clusters; Engage participating banks,
input-suppliers, off-takers and NAIC;
Ensure individual farmers open Bank
Accounts with participating Banks (all Out-growers should have a BVN);
Compute Average Cost of Production of
1Ha of the commodity (please note that this will be agreed upon at the
town-hall meeting) as the loan package;
Organize the town-hall meeting with
all stake-holders present to agree on the MOU which will be signed;
Set-up the Project Management Team
(PMT); Organize training; Execute
the MOU and implement Monitoring & Compliance.
Stakeholders
include:
·
NDE (Platform)/Organizer
·
CBN
representative in the State
·
Anchor miller
·
Off-takers
·
Input Suppliers
·
Farmer Co-operatives (especially women & youths)
·
All Farmers Association in the State
·
Farmers Association of the crop of
choice
·
Representative of NAIC
·
Representative of Ministry of Co-operative/Agric
·
Representative of participating Banks
Thanks
Faruq F. (B.Eng)
