16m farmers to be captured in FG biometric data base – BOA

16m farmersto be captured in FG biometric data base – BOA

By AaronOssai with agency reports

No fewerthan 16 million farmers would be captured in a new biometric database to enablethem benefit from intervention packages during the 2017 cropping season, federalgovernment has said.

The ManagingDirector of the Bank of Agriculture, Prof. Danbala Danju, who disclosed thiswhile signing a Memorandum of Understanding for Public Private Partnership withTrans-Sahara Consortium, Nigeria said the Federal Government would ensure thatthe registered farmers received all the needed inputs and loan facilities inrecord time to enhance production.

According toDanju, the move would effectively address the challenge of food security,tackle poverty and create employment opportunities for more Nigerian farmers.

“The twoparties agreed to capture at least 16 million farmers into alternativemulti-application payment system for farmers to access loans and conduct alltheir agro-businesses within their farms”, he added.

SenatorSaminu Turaki, who signed for Trans-Sahara Consortium said shortly aftersigning the MoU that the 16 million farmers would be registered within the nextthree months.

“By May, wewould have registered 16 million farmers on our biometric database to enablethem receive all the inputs they need before the farming season commences.

 

 
 

“TheTrans-Sahara Consortium will provide the database through EDAPT Technologies Companyand finance the project”, he said.

He said thatno less than 500,000 Point-of Sale devices would be made available in variouslocations in villages for the registered farmers to access all the neededfinances and pay for their inputs right at the farms.

“EDAPTTechnologies will provide the system, comprising of Bank-End-Super-Structure tohouse two interlinked secure server platforms.

“Theobjective of the MoU is to secure biometric application which will assistparticipating entities with a tool to collect and capture the necessaryclients’ information for accurate reports’’, Turaki added,

Turaki, aformer governor of Jigawa State, said the multi-purpose Client-Smart-Card wouldstore farmers’ biometric fingerprint, personal data and electronic wallets.

“It is inform of a primary wallet for banking transactions to save and receiveagriculture loans and purchase pre-described inputs as agro-dealers’’, headded.

TheTrans-Sahara Consortium is promoting the partnership for the economic benefitof the two parties as proceeds would be shared based on agreed percentages.


Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *