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The Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN) disbursed N8.281 billion during the fourth quarter of
2010 under the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS).

According to data
on the Bank’s website, a total of N96.811 billion has so far been
disbursed to 86 projects/promoters and 18 state governments in the
second tranche since the scheme began in 2009. This brings the number
of beneficiaries to 104, out of 347 projects that applied to benefit
from the scheme.

The CBN in 2009 set
aside N200 billion for onward lending to farmers under the scheme
towards boosting agricultural production in the country. The balance of
CACS funds as at December, 2010 stood at N103.189 billion.

In a memorandum to
the National Economic Council, the Central Bank said that under the
second tranche, 18 state governments: Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Enugu,
Gombe, Kebbi, Kogi, Imo, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Sokoto, Taraba
Zamfara, FCT, Akwa Ibom and Rivers accessed N1billion each for
on-lending to farmers’ co-operatives and other areas of agricultural
interventions in their various states.

Food security

The initiative is
expected to enhance food security, reduce cost of credit in
agricultural production, and increase output and employment in the
sector. Target commodities under the scheme include the cultivation of
target crops (rice, cassava, cotton, oil palm, wheat, rubber, sugar
cane, fruits, and vegetable); livestock (dairy, poultry, piggery); and
fisheries.

As at December,
2010, 11 banks: Access, Fidelity, First, Guaranty Trust, Oceanic, Skye,
Stanbic IBTC, Union Bank, UBA, Unity and Zenith are participating under
the scheme. UBA has the highest disbursement of N35.162 billion
followed by Zenith with N13.835 billion, Union, N10.903 billion, First
Bank, N9.135 billion and Skye Bank with N6 billion. Also, N13.934
billion, comprising N11.353 billion from UBA, N2.00 billion from Skye
Bank and N0.581 billion from GTB has been withdrawn in respect of
undisbursed funds.

Eligibility

Under the
eligibility guidelines released by the Central Bank, borrowers under
the scheme shall be a limited liability company, with asset base of not
less than N350 million, and with prospect to grow the net asset to N500
million in the next three years and comply with the provision of the
Company and Allied Matters Act (1990). This, however, is not applicable
to loans taken by state government for on-lending.

Such companies must
also have a clear business plan, provide up-to-date record on the
business operation, if any, and satisfy the entire requirement
specified by its lending bank. According to the CBN, “interest on loan
shall not exceed nine per cent, inclusive of all charges.

To ensure safety of
the funds, the banks bear the credit risk of the loans, while state
government have to sign an irrevocable standing payment order (ISPO) in
favour of the CBN to deduct at source the total amount in default from
the states on monthly basis of State revenue allocation.