Agriculture
Argentina Partners Nigeria On Agriculture
Argentina has indicated interest to co-operate with Nigeria in many fields of human endeavours, with particular focus on agriculture and energy, the Argentine Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Hector Timerman, has disclosed.
Timerman told newsmen in Buenos Aires that “the co-operation is the focus of the newly-signed bilateral agreement between the two countries’’.
Argentina and Nigeria had on Tuesday in Buenos Aires signed a cooperation agreement, with Timerman signing for Argentina, while Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Odein Ajumogobia, signed on behalf of the Federal Government.
Timerman said “Argentina has found it very important to establish a deeper and stronger relationship with Nigeria.
“Knowing that Nigeria is one of the big leaders of a continent as important as Africa, it is for us very high in our policies to establish a deeper relationship with Nigeria.
“The recent two-day visit by Nigeria´s foreign affairs minister is an engine to move forward the co-operation between our two countries and I have promised him that I will on my part very soon visit Nigeria too.”
Timerman, whose portfolio also covers International Trade and Worship, said “we will co-operate in agriculture, energy and in many fields of human resources, but in many areas that can contribute to the well-being of our people.”
Speaking on the bilateral agreement, Ajumogobia said it was a way of strenghtening the South-South co-operation in world trade and politics.
He said “we have been talking about South-South co-operation for a very long time, but no major advancement has been seen.
“Now, we believe that it is through broadening and deepening our bilateral relations across the South-South divide that we can enhance trade and investment in both countries.”
Ajumogobia said Nigeria believes that Argentina has a lot to offer to derive mutual benefits from the agreement.
“We believe that Argentina has a lot to offer us. Food security is one of our priorities and Argentina is renowned in the agricultural sector.
“So, we believe there is a lot we can benefit in terms of transfer of technology, in terms of co-operation and so on.
´´We are hopeful that there will be investment in other areas like the power sector as well as oil and gas sector.
“Argentina is already operating in the Niger-Delta region, in the area of oil pipelines.”
The foreign affairs minister said the new bilateral agreement is wider and covers so many areas.
“There is so much else in it, but as this is the first official visit at this level of a Nigerian official like the foreign minister, it is the beginning of a new relationship that will be based on economic development and cultural exchanges,´´ he said.
He gave the assurance that the Nigerian government was set to explore all aspects of the co-operation in the nearest future for the mutual benefit of both countries.
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”.