Agriculture
Commit 10% National Budget To Agric, FG Urged
Action Aid Nigeria, has urged government at all levels to implement the Maputo Declaration of 2003, which stipulates commitment of 10 per cent of national budget to the agriculture sector.
The Food and Agriculture Advisor to the international organisation, Mr Azubike Nwokoye, made the call on Thursday in Abuja, at a Photo Book and Exhibition organised to mark the International Day for Rural Women.
The theme of this year’s celebration is “social protection.’’
He said the government had not been able to implement the decision reached by African leaders in Maputo, rather there had been an annual decline in the amount committed to the agriculture sector.
“When you do not have enough money within the budget, you cannot provide social protection for the farmers.
“You cannot provide access to cheap credit, good insurance, access to quality farm input which are part of social protection; a lot needs to be done,’’ he said.
Nwokoye said the amount budgeted for the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme of the Federal Government had also continued to decline over the years.
He said GES was an innovative programme that had recorded a lot of success in some parts of the country.
The advisor, however, noted that it also had some challenges that needed to be sorted out to make it sustainable.
Mr Sonny Echono, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the ministry was determined to redouble its efforts in strengthening the agricultural sector.
Echono, who was represented by the Director, Internal Audit, Abiodun Okesanya, said the ministry had succeeded in tackling hunger in the country.
He said that the ministry was not only looking at ensuring enough food supply in the country, but expecting to become a net exporter of food in the next few years.
He said the ministry was working to enhance access to land and funds for women in agriculture, adding that a bill had been sent to the National Assembly in that regard.
Also speaking, Adams Eloyi, the National Programme Director, Rural Youth Advocate for Health and Development for Nigeria, said rural communities were yet to feel the full impact of government programmes.
He said that people in the rural areas were marginalised because of lack of access to information technology, road and power supply.
According to him, most government development programmes are targeted at the rural poor, but often times the benefits does not reach the rural people.
Eloyi stressed the need for rural dwellers to be involved in designing government development programmes, and called for proper monitoring to ensure they were implemented in rural areas.
Federal Government and the Ogun State Government, on Wednesday, distributed farm inputs to farmers as part of effort to address food security challenge.
The State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Toyin Ayo-Ajayi, during the flag-off ceremony of Inputs Redemption Under The National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), in Ogun State, disclosed that beneficiaries of the gesture were primarily rice, maize and cassava farmers across the State.
Ayo-Ajayi commended the Ogun State Government for partnering with the government at the centre for the effort in supporting farmers with inputs that would bring about yieldings for local consumption and likely exportation.
She noted that government is supporting rice, cassava and maize farmers with inputs worth N212,000; N189,000 and N186,000 respectively.
The Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Kehinde Jokotoye, who represented the Commissioner in the Ministry, Bolu Owotomo, stated that traditional farmers are critical in food production, hence the need to encourage and support them with inputs that would bring about desired results during harvesting.
Owotomo said: “Let us make good use of this opportunity, so that the success of this phase will make farmers benefit more from the state and federal governments of Nigeria.”
Earlier, State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Oluwatoyin Ayo-Ajayi, appreciated the present administration for partnering with the federal government for the initiative, adding that the programme is designed to support farmers at the grassroots level in cassava, rice and maize with inputs such as, seeds, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, to boost their production and enhance their livelihood.
The Niger State Government has mapped out 10,000 hectares of farmland in Gbapo Community of Katcha Local Government Area of the State for smallholder farmers to benefit from the state government’s agricultural intervention programme.
Two thousand out of the 10,000 holders of the farmlands have already received inputs.
At a flag-off ceremony in Yinti Village, the facilitator of the programme, Shinkafan Nupe, Malam Idris Usman Makanta, assured the farmers of increased distributions to the mapped-out ten thousand (10,000) farmlands if farmers respond positively.
He explained that the commencement of the two thousand is to measure the positive response of farmers before obtaining full-scale support.
Malam Makanta stated that this initiative aligns with the farmers’ initial commitment through Niger Foods, whose mission is primarily geared towards establishing efficient and profitable agricultural businesses to support the present administration of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s quest to boost agricultural productivity in the state.
He also commended Niger Foods for their steadfastness and resilience in the effective implementation of the input financing scheme.
Makanta reiterated the commitment of the State Governor in making judicious use of the arable land in the state.
Shinkafan Nupe, therefore, urged the farmers to support the Governor by using the inputs wisely so that the dream can be actualised.
The Gombe State Government has empowered a total of 573,429 farmers and entrepreneurs under the 4th phase of the GO-CARES programme.
The programme was officially flagged off by Governor Inuwa Yahaya in another major step towards alleviating poverty and supporting the state’s vulnerable populations.
The Governor, while inaugurating the disbursement in Akko Community of Akko Local Government Area, restated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of vulnerable citizens in the state.
He was represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Salihu Baba Alkali, who is also the Chairman of the Steering Committee on GO- CARES implementation.
“The 4th phase of GO-CARES will directly and indirectly impact a total of 573,429 citizens across the state. Of these, 152,429 individuals will benefit directly through cash transfers, livelihood grants, agricultural inputs, and operational grants to small businesses”, he stated.
The Governor added that, “421,000 people will be indirect beneficiaries through infrastructural projects such as classroom blocks, healthcare facilities, WASH services, and rural infrastructure projects like culverts and drainages”.
Yahaya, reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the state’s most vulnerable citizens are not left behind in the state’s development.
According to him, “Earlier this year, on June 25, 2024, we flagged off the distribution of improved seedlings, fertilizers, and herbicides to less privileged farmers in Malam Sidi, Kwami Local Government Area, signaling the commencement of the 4th phase implementation of GO-CARES under Result Area 2”.
The Governor reiterated that these initiatives have had a significant impact on the livelihoods of beneficiaries and the overall agricultural sector.
He explained that, “Today’s ceremony marked the simultaneous launch of activities under all three GO-CARES Result Areas for the 4th phase. These areas include: State Cash Transfer Grants: 2,500 direct beneficiaries; Labour Intensive Public Works: 2,700 direct beneficiaries; Livelihood Grants: 10,000 direct beneficiaries; and Basic Services: 405,000 indirect beneficiaries”.