A report on the Nigerian National survey of exportable agricultural commodities said an estimated N211.5 billion ($ 1.3 billion) was committed to crop farming activities during the 2011 and 2012 periods.

The report which was compiled and issued by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that out of that sum, about N134.19 ($838 million) came out of diverse personal funds, while Micro lenders invested N36.8 billion ($229.8 million) in the sector.

According to the Bureau which coordinates and publishes statistics in Africa’s second largest economy, “Community Banks contributed the lowest amount to the venture, expending a mere N1.30 billion ($8 million) 0.61 percent of the outflow, in the last two years”.

The statement said that Cooperative Banks had a 6.00 percent contribution, totalling N12.62billion ($78 million), Bank of Agriculture staked in $13 million (0.96 percent), while Commercial Banks invested N1.41 billion (0.67 percent) for the period.

The NBS stated that disaggregating the funds into states, Kaduna State recorded the highest with N9.51 billion (7.09 percent) followed by Kano state with N9.45 billion (7.04 percent).

Ekiti, a state in western Nigeria, had the lowest amount of N0.61billion (0.45 percent).

The NBS creation which came into being with the merger of the Federal Office of Statistics (FOS) and the National Data Bank (NDB) has offices in all 36 states in the country and another in the Federal Capital Territory.