Amaka Obiefuna.

The Anchor Borrowers programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria is set to begin the exportation of rice come 2017.

The programme in conjunction with the Presidential Committee on Rice Production which was launched in July had jointly set the target. This announcement was made in Yenagoa at a sensitization workshop for farmers by the Acting Director of Corporate Communications of CBN, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor. The theme of the workshop was titled ‘Promoting stability and economic development’. Already, farmers in Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto and Cross Rivers have keyed into the programme, resulting in massive rice cultivation with Kebbi state already harvested a million tonnes of rice.

According to Vanguard news, a statement made by him is as follows ‘We must rid ourselves of eating foreign rice that has been stored for over nine years in Thailand, Vietnam and India. Nigeria rice is fresh and healthier’.

He also mentioned that the programme aimed at creating jobs for the Nigerian youth and urged all hands to be on deck as the nation’s currency is currently struggling due to unnecessary importation of food stuff.

He also pleaded with Nigerians to take opportunity of the rich wet soil to begin rich cultivation and even went further to urge farmers to take pride in farming.