The FCT Farmers Empowerment Association has flagged off this year’s farming season with a call on farmers to adhere strictly to planting rules for bumper harvest.

The President of the association, Obaje Omobolaji, said the association had sealed agreement with the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), the CBN’s Anchor Borrowers Scheme and the Fadama 111 Additional Financing to secure loans for the members.

Obaje said the association was committed to uplifting the standard of its members, saying about 60 per cent of the farmers were qualified to access the loans.

He, however, regretted that opening up of the farm lands was the major challenge as some are in the swam areas while others are with big trees, making it difficult for farmers to use modern technology like tractors to kick start the process.

He pleaded with the FCT Minister, Muhammed Musa Bello and Senator Philips Aduda, to assist the farmers with bulldozers to enable them increase food production in the FCT.

The association is a coalition of the FCT Farmers Cooperative Societies.

POSTED BY:OPUOMONI PRIYE

DATE:05/04/2017