Nigeria to register 16M farmers in biometric database

The Nigerian government said it will register at least 16 million farmers in a new biometric database to enable them to receive benefits from intervention packages during the 2017 cropping season, according to a report by Today.

Professor Danbala Danju, the managing director of the Bank of Agriculture, revealed the news while signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for public private partnership (PPP) with Trans-Sahara Consortium, Nigeria.

The federal government would ensure that the registered farmers received all the needed inputs and loan facilities in record time to enhance production, Danju said.

The biometric database will help address the issue of food security, combat poverty and generate new jobs for more Nigerian farmers.

“The two parties agreed to capture at least 16 million farmers into alternative multi-application payment system for farmers to access loans and conduct all their agro-businesses within their farms,” Danju said

Senator Saminu Turaki, who signed on behalf of Trans-Sahara Consortium, said that the 16 million farmers would be registered for the database over the next three months.

“By May, we would have registered 16 million farmers on our biometric database to enable them receive all the inputs they need before the farming season commences,” Turaki said. “The Trans-Sahara Consortium will provide the database through EDAPT Technologies company and finance the project.”

The government will provide at least 500,000 point-of-sale (POS) devices in various areas of villages for the registered farmers to access all the required finances and pay for their inputs onsite at the farms.

According to Turaki, EDAPT Technologies will provide the system which comprises of a Bank-End-Superstructure to store two interlinked secure server platforms.

The MoU is designed to secure biometric application by providing participating entities with a tool to collect and capture the needed clients information (KYC) for accurate reports.

The multi-purpose client smart card would store farmers’ biometric fingerprint, personal data and electronic wallets, Turaki said..

“It is in form of a primary wallet for banking transactions to save and receive agriculture loans and purchase pre-described inputs as agro-dealers,” Turaki said.

Previously reported, Nigeria’s Federal Commissioner of the National Population Commission (NPC) revealed that biometric technology will be deployed during the 2018 census to capture facial impressions and fingerprints of citizens.

Article Topics

biometric database  |  biometrics  |  fingerprint biometrics  |  identity verification  |  Nigeria  |  smartcards