Unity Bank Plc has promised to provide additional funding to about 120,000 smallholder maize farmers in the 2021 wet season farming in the country.
The managing director and chief executive officer of Unity Bank Plc, Mrs. Tomi Some fun, disclosed this in his goodwill message at the unveiling of the first National Maize Pyramids and flag-off of wet season farming programs held over the weekend in Katsina.
He was represented by the head, agribusiness, Unity Bank Plc, Mrs. Patricia Chinwe Ahunanya, some fun disclosed that additional funding for 2021 wet season farming is in furtherance to the bank’s commitment towards supporting maize farmers in the country.
She stated that the strategic partnership with the Maize Association of Nigeria commenced in 2019 with the financing of about 37,182 smallholder farmers, with the bank increasing its financing tally to 70,604 smallholder farmers in 2020.
Speaking on the maize pyramid, some fun stated that “the maize pyramids will go down in history as the first maize pyramid in Nigeria which demonstrates not only the resilience of our farmers but also the commendable vision of the Federal Government of Nigeria through the implementing partners. This should be replicated in all states with a focus on the crops that have comparative advantage.”
“Unity Bank is fully committed to its partnership with MAAN and this commitment will ensure the attainment of FGN/CBN target to meet self-sufficiency in maize production through the association,” she assured.
The national president of MAAN, Dr Abubakar Bello, commended Unity Bank for its continued support to the farmers through its strategic role in providing the necessary financing to the maize farmers.
