The Anambra chapter of Maize Association of Nigerian says it has received inputs worth N89 million under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP).

Simeon Nwafor, state chairman of the association made the disclosure while speaking with NAN in Onitsha on Tuesday.

He commended the federal government for finally enrolling Anambra farmers in the programme saying that the inputs will be used for the current farming season.

“This is the first time Anambra is participating in the programme. We are in the field and have started harvesting as part of the efforts to ensure maize sufficiency for consumption and export,” Mr. Nwafor said.

He explained that the association received inputs including maize seedlings, NPK fertiliser, Urea fertiliser, agro-chemicals, micro nutrients (liquid) and knapsack sprayers, among others, for 535 farmers on 535 hectares of farmland.

The chairman said they are still expecting delivery of 272 bags of Urea and 60 bags of 120kg maize, among others.

“We have not completed the harvest, but so far, we can say we have a bumper harvest,” he said.

Mr. Nwafor said maize farmers are faced with challenges such as the high cost of manual labour as a result of the absence of mechanised equipment such as tractors, planters and harvesters.

“Every week, we spend between N500,000 and N600,000 on manual labour. You can then calculate for a month and more,” he said. “The labourers are also not planting as expected; a hectare which ought to take about 55,506 seedlings, accommodates far below the required quantity per hectare.”