Taraba State Leads in Maize production.
By Jethro Yerga
Taraba state has been marked among the states that produce the highest quantity of maize in Nigeria.
The National President of Maize Association of Nigeria, (MAAN) Mr. Bello Abubakar disclosed this development to farmers at the Farmers Unity Hall of the Taraba State Agricultural Produce Marketing Agency, Jalingo recently when delegates of the association in the state converged to elect new officials to run the affairs of the association in Taraba state.
The MAAN national president who was ably represented by the National treasurer of the association Mr. Batur Joel Zungwe, stated that the federal government through the CBN banned importation of rice in Nigeria and when it was banned, government was looking up to Taraba and few other States to make sure that maize is in abundance in the whole country, be it industrial or for home use.
The president encouraged Taraba State farmers in the state to live up to their responsibilities in order to complement the importance the federal government has attached to the state in respect to maize production.
He also urged the leaders of MAAN in the state to be honest in their dealings with farmers in order to build the needed confidence in them to enable them sustain or improve the quantity and quality of maize production in the country.
While sensitizing the farmers about the ongoing dry season farming of maize which is been facilitated by the federal government through the CBN to enable farmers produce maize in the dry season in a large quantity, the president urged farmers to key in to the programme and remain honest in all their dealings.
“Most times the central bank is
interested in getting information from us about the location of our farm, the amount we expended in the farm, the size of the farm, how much it has given to us, how much we have paid back, and how much is outstanding? We must be able to produce all these information with all sense of honesty. Don’t forged any information. So that the business will continue” He told the farmers.
The president further applauded the support of partners including Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), All farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAM), Unity Bank, Bank of Agriculture and Zenith Bank towards maize production in the country, maintaining that without them it would have been difficult for them to achieve such great feats.
Meanwhile, the Taraba State election of the FAAM in which the farmers converged to conduct, could not hold following some disagreements ignited by delegates from the Northern part of Taraba State.
Addressing our reporters shortly after the election was aborted, the Acting State chairman of the association, Mr Yusuf Mijinyawa accused few people whom he alleged were not even members of the association for bringing the confusion that led to the abortion of the election.
He however noted that he and his exco would do everything possible within the time available to them to call for the election again owing to the importance of the organization to individual members and the entire state in general.
