The out-growers’ scheme intended to empower small holder farmers in the Niger Delta may soon get a boost from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
CBN Director (Corporate Communications), Ibrahim Muazu, disclosed this in Calabar during a tour of Calaro Oil Palm Estate operated by Biase Plantations, a subsidiary of PZ Wilmer.
The new scheme initiated by Biase Plantations with the support of host Cross Rivers State is meant to encourage farmers to explore opportunities in agri-business, particularly oil palm plantation.
Biase Plantations Head of Human Resources and Administration, Stephen Ebong, said the company is still developing the models for the new scheme to work out effectively.
He urged the CBN to join other partners, including Market Development for the Niger Delta, to make the scheme work.
“We have Market Development for the Niger Delta, an NGO (non governmental organisation) coming in to work with the company.
“DFI (direct foreign investment) is also coming to explore how they can partner with the scheme as well. May be CBN will come in too, to partner with us,” Ebong said.
“It is a long term project and in the course of it, we will be able to know who and who are going to benefit. For now, we want to start with the farmers around so that we can easily monitor the farms for them.
“If a farmer is in Abuja, it will be difficult for us to travel to the place to monitor the farms for him. If it works out well we can then establish elsewhere to reach out to more farmers outside the South South who may be interested in the scheme.”