Hon. Ubandoma Urges Banks To Assist Farmers On Loans To Enhance Food Security In Plateau

The commissioner for Housing and Urban Development in plateau state Honourable Ubandoma Joshua Laven has charged the financial institutions in plateau State to come to the aid of  farmers in the state with soft loans on “0” percent interest free.

This will help with great measures in improving bumper harvest of crops yields, enhanced food security and help to reduce high rates of insecurity currently bedeviling the state.

Hon. Ubandoma who is a member of  Executive Committee on Plateau Agricultural Development Program (PADP), set up by Caleb Mutfwang government to ensured it’s transparency in carrying out it activities specifically that which concerns farmers in the state, stated this in an interview with Journalists during distribution of Improved seedlings and other  farm inputs for 2024 farming season held at it office located at Dogo Dutse in Jos North Local Government of the state.

Ubandoma add that the social cooperate Responsibility of banks operating in the state should not only be limited to building cottage hospital alone, they should extend it to farming activities to ameliorate the excruciating demoralization  average farmers in the state go through to raising money to purchase farm inputs.

He said the role of plateau state government is to ensure extensive,aggressive monitoring and supervision of the program of distribution farmer input to providehighyield varieties of seedlings are done for bomber harvest. 

The commissioner said this is imperative because food insecurity is a high threat to security as he pointed to the fact that a hungry man is  angry man.

He said it’s on  this premise that the “Time Is Now” administration of Governor Caleb Mutfwang reiterated that if you cannot feed yourself, you hit yourself.

Stressed that when we are not satisfied with ourselves as living  beings, there is tendency that we will be angry with ourselves and there would be acrimonies in the land. But when we feed well and satisfied , we will be able to think well and do what is expected of us by our leaders .

Added that the government cannot be talking of infrastructure and other developmental projects when her populace are hunger, they wouldn’t listen to him and Undermine any developmental projects he may be putting in place.

Ubandoma further said it’s on this premise governor Mutfwang’s administration is desirous to ensure he gives agriculture it rightful position in the “Time Is Now” talk and do PDP Caleb Mutfwang led administration.

So food security on the plateau by extension Nigeria is the major reason while we are flagging off this program of “Improved Varieties  of Seedlings” to enable farmers have bumper harvest ,when will have bumper harvest, there would be that mindset to support the government in all the developmental projects that is embarking on in the state and other initiatives.

Reiterated the government advocacy for agriculture and food security , so if the government failed in that direction, we will not succeed with any plans we may be putting in place no matter how beautiful it may appear. 

We saw this initiative of Agricultural revolution as very important initiative that would help to fast track government development in the state,so we can’t hesitate to support it whole hearted including any available resources within our disposal to achieve the desired peace and harmony on the Plateau.

The Commissioner who doubled as  One of the Executive Committee on  Agriculture in the state Hon. Ubandoma said this informed the reason while he has to physically be in attendance to flagging off to ensure we fine tune ideas to ensure the products reached the down trodden.

All the various farmers in affiliated unions mentioned in the course of this flagging off ceremony have their members down to the grass roots level, local government and their branches scattered across the state we will ensure the products get to them .

However, we may not be 100 percent in getting it right , if we can be able to achieve 70-80 percent for a start ,I think that is acceptable pass mark in any educational scores.

Revealed that the government is not unmindful of some people who stocked in trade of diverting the products to open market or personal use , he give his assurance of government mechanisms to check those bad eggs among the farmers because we are aware that there are farmers with financial muscles that can afford the product while majority can’t.

He said for now the government have to start the distribution of the farm inputs from catchment areas to  ensure the farmers have bumper harvest and government will in turn buy from them and redistribute to those farmers who may have not had the opportunity to benefit from the earlier government distributions.

He described the process as work in progress, but pointed out that contrary to call for Government to make provisions for loans facilities for the farmers in the state, for now it may not be feasible , but the government can only creat enably environment for them to secure loan facilities from the bank at zero percent interest rate.

Which is the reason almost all Banks in the state are present to witness the flag off to see where they can come in as part of their social responsibilities. 

SOURCE: GNEWS