Thousands of farmers displaced by the Boko Haram sect from the north-eastern part of Nigeria are currently returning home to boost the agricultural sector.
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Borno Chapter, on Wednesday said over 18, 000 rice farmers in the state will cultivate their farms in 2016 after four years of insecurity.
The state AFAN Secretary, Salihu Aliyu, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri.
He said that many farmers had returned to their farms as a result of the relative peace being enjoyed in the state.
Aliyu, who lamented that the strangulating challenges of insecurity in the state and environs, said insurgency had before now virtually crippled farming activities in the state.
He explained that the association was discussing with government officials on how its members could access part of the N4.9 billion loans to rice farmers under the Central BN Anchor Borrower programme.
“We know that 78, 000 farmers have benefitted in Kebbi. We want the same in Borno, we have over 18, 000 rice farmers alone".