By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Unity Bank Plc will provide additional funding to 120,000 smallholder maize farmers in the 2021 wet season farming under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP).
The bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Tomi Somefun, said this in a statement on Friday.
Somefun made the pledge while delivering a goodwill message at the unveiling of the first National Maize Pyramids and kick-off of wet season farming programmes held recently in Katsina.
Somefun, who was represented by the bank’s Head, Agribusiness, Mrs Patricia Ahunanya, said the additional funding for the 2021 wet season farming was in furtherance to the bank’s commitment toward supporting maize farmers in the country.
Somefun said the strategic partnership with the association commenced in 2019 with the financing of about 37,182 smallholder farmers.
She noted that the bank increased its financing tally to 70,604 smallholder farmers in 2020.
The National President of Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN), Dr Abubakar Bello, commended the bank for its continued support of the farmers through its strategic role in providing the necessary financing to the maize farmers, adding that the association will meet the financing obligations and sustain the drive for increased maize output in the 2021 wet season farming.