By Idris Khalid
Bauchi branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with Heritage Bank Nigeria Limited is to expand the sum of over N5.8 billion under the irrigation Wheat farming this dry season in the state.
This was disclosed by the Heritage Bank Ltd state branch manager, Mr. Hayatu Mustapha at the launching of the wheat dry season held at the NUJ premises, Bauchi yesterday hosting the office of the state branch of Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria.
Alhaji Hayatu Mustapha revealed that 15, 667 farmers would be involved in the seasonal wheat farming in Bauchi state under the tutelage of wheat farmers Association of Nigeria and Wheat Farmers & Marketers Association.
Also speaking at the occasion, the CBN branch Controller in Bauchi, Idris Haladu, said that the apex evolved the programme following the comatose stage of Nigerian Flour Mills and the problems being encountered in the importation of wheat into the country.
Idris explained that the seasonal scheme was launched at the federal level in Jos last Monday by the CBN Governor, stressing that the cropping period of the wheat crop is three months for harvesting.
He stated that the apex bank took the pains of wooing wheat farmers from Mexico who were three weeks ago in Bauchi for fadama site seeing in the 20 local government areas of the state.
The Desk Officer of the Bauchi state branch of the Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria, Aliyu Musa has said that the association has 74 farming clusters across the 20 LGAs in the state and each cluster has farmers ranging between 30 to 250 persons.
He said the dry season wheat production is in line with the ongoing efforts to boost food security and provide job opportunities to the youths through the agricultural value chain.
The state commissioner agriculture, Barrister Jidauna Mbami Tula has assured the stakeholders of the state government’s resolved in training the wheat farmers through the Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme.
