Stakeholders at the Agricultural training for Banking Professionals of Finance Service Providers have pledged their support to the Competitive African Rice Initiative (CARI) for improved production of rice.
The stakeholders include representatives of some banks such as Unity Bank, Union Bank, Sterling Bank, Heritage Bank, Jaiz Bank, on Thursday assured CARI of their “total support’’ in terms of finance for rice farmers and rice processors in the country.
The training was organised by GIZ CARI, a German NGO involved in promotion of African rice value chain and with the focus of improving rice production in Nigeria.
Mr Haruna Usman, an Agric Officer from Unity Bank said the bank was ready and willing to partner with CARI to boost rice production in Nigeria.
“We will partner in terms of capacity development with farmers in the area of rice production in Nigeria to meet the need of consumers.
“We are looking forward to the increase in terms of production, we will provide support for the farmers to achieve their goals,’’ he said.
Mrs Ugonwa Ikegwuonu, an Agric Lending Officer from Heritage bank commended CARI for organising the training and promised to partner with it to equip farming activities in the country.
She however appealed to CARI to implement the MoU on modalities of supporting farmers after it was signed.
Mr Ewere Nosa, an Agric Officer from LAPO Micro Finance, also promised to support CARI to build capacity development for rice farmers in the country.
“We are willing to support CARI on this and we promise to go back and build our structure to meet the need on ground.
“We will want to develop more financial products as a bank to see that we meet the need of farmers to build production in the rice sector,’’ he said.
Responding, the Country Coordinator of CARI, Mr Kazeem Adegoke said that he was excited about the positive responses from the banks toward improved lending to farmers.
He said that the organisation would form a stronger collaboration between CARI and partnering banks to jointly improve productivity in the rice sector in Nigeria.
Dr Lisa Wegner, the Agricultural Finance Advisor of CARI, appreciated the banks that participated in the training for their valuable contributions.
Wegner said the training and the breakfast meeting with several executives of banks was as a starting point of improved relationship between the banks and CARI.
The banks signed an MoU CARI on the improved rice production.
