Agriculture
Rivers Farmers Predict Bumper Harvest
Farmers in Rivers state have described 2011 as a year of bumper harvest due to the climate change which resulted to early rainfall in the Niger Delta region this year.
Also, they reasoned that with the heavy harmattan weather which started November last year and ended January this year was strong indications that investment in agriculture especially crops farming would bring good harvest.
Some of the farmers who spoke in exclusive interview with The Tide in Etche and Omuma Local Government Areas, Rivers state said that their prediction was anchored on the fact that there was delayed harmattan weather and rainfall in 2009/2010 farming season in the region which led to poor harvest last year.
Mr. Stephen Onyeche, a farmer at Umudike-Umuogba in Omuma Local Government Area said that the climate change led to early cultivation of farmland in the community, thereby stimulating agricultural activities among rural farmers.
According to him, farming activities began early this year as against 2009/2010 farming season in the community due to early rainfall and heavy harmattan which acts as natural fertilizer to the farm land.
Mr. Onyeche who said, he specialises on crops farming such as yam and cassava blamed the recent reports of food scarcity threatening the country on lack of government’s encouragement to rural farmers and exodus of farming age among the youths to urban cities for white-collar jobs.
While commending Rivers state government under Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi for his policy in aggressive development of agriculture in the state, he appealed to the state government to encourage rural farmers with soft loans, grants and implements to enable them produce sufficient food for the teeming population.
Also, Mr. Emmanuel Nwanjoku from Etche Local Government Area told The Tide at Okehi, headquarters of Etche LGA that farmers expect good harvest this year as a result of climate change which led to early rainfall and harmattan which he claimed was favourable for agriculture particularly rural farmers.
Mr. Nwanjoku who holds the title of Ezeji (King of Yam) disclosed that the problem of rural farmers is lack of government encouragement and inability of farmers to access agricultural loans from financial institutions in the country.
He, however, acknowledged the presence of Fadama III programme for Co-operative rural farmers in the Niger Delta region but said enough needs to be done to encourage farmers to obtain loans, grants and farming implements from governments at all levels.
Again, he appealed to Rivers State government to prevail on local government councils in the state to procure fertiliser for rural farmers at subsidised cost to enable them produce more food for the teeming population.
Isaac Nwankwo
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”.