Anchor Borrowers: AFAN says killer herdsmen worst nightmare

Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Enugu chapter, Romanus Eze says the country’s biggest challenge is herdsmen’s invasions on farmers and their farmlands.

Mr Eze stated that farmers’ persistent attacks by the herders had put fears in them.

He noted that many farmers had abandoned their farmlands for fear of attack, adding that it posed a serious problem to food security in the state and Nigeria at large.

“Lots of farmers face herders attack in Enugu State, and this challenge makes it difficult for farmers to access their farmlands.

“Most of the farmers are into the Anchor Borrowers Programme, and destruction of farmers’ lands by herders becomes a nightmare for them,” he said.

According to Mr Eze, the improvement has made farm inputs and foodstuff prices high in markets.

He complained on the effect of untimely release of Anchor Borrowers Programme inputs to farmers, adding that such did not speak well for the programme and the farmers.

“Many farmers have been profiled into Anchor Borrowers Programme on cassava, maize, and rice in Enugu State.

“Most of the inputs have not been delivered to the farmers, and this is the fifth month of the year. Timing of inputs delivery matters a lot because delivering the input out of season will be of no benefit to the farmers,” Mr Eze explained.

The chairman noted that the first quarter of the 2021 farming season had gone, and yet the government had not started the farming season.

Most farmers, with or without government help, have already started farming.

“The farmers started with land preparation in December and January depending on the climate change.

“Now, many of the farmers have started planting, though the rain is not steady.

“Government needs to support and encourage farmers with quality seeds and advise them on how to go about commercial farming,” Mr Eze added.