Agriculture
FG Plans Low Interest Regime For Farmers
The Federal Government says it is considering a low interest lending rate regime for farmers in the country
President Goodluck Jonathan said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the 19th National Economic Summit and the inauguration of the Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme (YEAP).
The Tide reports that the programme seeks to eliminate the constraints to youth participation in agro business in the country.
The theme of the 19th Economic Summit is, “Growing Agriculture as a Business to Diversify Nigeria’s Economy’’.
A team headed by the Finance Minister is working on how government will link up with the private sector and the Central Bank to make sure that farmers get loans at very low interest rate.
The president commended the effort of the Central Bank of Nigeria in extending its lending to the agric sector, assuring that government would continue to develop innovative financing mechanism to make agricultural lending more affordable.
Jonathan, who also inaugurated the young Nigerian farmers at the summit, applauded the effort of the youth who ventured into agriculture out of interest.
I am convinced that agriculture as a business holds a bright future for our country, especially for the youth. “Unemployment among our youths is one of the biggest challenges; the time has come to create jobs and laid a good foundation for Nigeria’s economic growth, he said.
There is a need to get younger farmers, especially young graduates and school leavers, to take on agriculture as a business.
“I am excited that a lot of young people now see agriculture as a viable business opportunity; the panel of young business men and women that we just listened to has clearly demonstrated that the future of Nigerian agriculture is indeed bright. In order to encourage our young people, and to create a NEW cadre of young, dynamic and entrepreneurial commercial farmers in agro business, the Minister Agriculture has developed YEAP,’’ he said.
According to him, the programme over the next five years will see the emergence of young graduates and school leavers across the geo political zones into commercial farming and agro business.
“They will be called NAGROPRENEURS; these people through their businesses will create jobs for hundreds of thousands of Nigerian youths. To these young people, I say, you are the leaders of tomorrow and your leadership in training starts from today,’’ he said.
The president urged youths in the country to key into the opportunity to develop their skills and become commercial agro dealers in all areas of agriculture.
He said that administration would revolutionalised the sector, adding that ‘’days are gone when farmers are seen as poor people in the society.’’
Jonathan said that government would continue to accept recommendations from the summit group to help boost the economy, adding that a framework had been created for the National Planning Commission to forward such recommendations to the Federal Executive Council for implementation by Ministries, Department and Agencies.
The president said that the objective of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda was to turn about 20 million metric tonnes of food to the domestic food supply and to create about 3. 5 million jobs for the young people.
He said that the goal of government was to use agriculture as the spring board for Nigeria’s industrialisation.
Jonathan said that the rice revolution in 10 states in the dry season was a demonstration that if the farmers were well supported, they could feed the whole nation and beyond.
“Our target is to become self-sufficient in rice production by 2015 and 2016,’’ he said.
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”.
