Three farmers in Cross River State have won awards from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for prompt repayment of Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) loans, just as another farmer, Mrs. Henrietta Godfrey won the Best Farmer of the Year 2021 award. Mr. Udoh Augustine won the first runner-up, while Mrs. Glory Ekong won the second runner-up. The awards, which came in the form of cash and certificates to the best farmers, were awarded by the CBN for their ability to utilise their loans.
The apex bank said the awards were to serve as incentives for implementing the scheme and inculcating good repayment behaviour. The branch controller of the CBN in Calabar, Mrs. Glory Iniuanam, disclosed that the awardees were being encouraged to take the loan and payback. “The CBN and the Federal Government are the initiators of this ACGSF scheme and it is being supported by the bankers committee”, she said. Iniuanam added that they guaranteed the loan in the case of any default and paid back 75 per cent, assuring that it remained a reliable scheme.