Agriculture
Delta Rice Farm To Engage 50 Graduates
Proprietor, Guanah Rice
Farms, Illah, Delta State, Mr Raymos Guanah, has said that he is planning to engage 50 graduates to produce more rice to feed the newly procured processing mill in the farm.
Guanah disclosed this to newsmen in his farm at Illah, near Asaba, the Delta capital on Sunday.
The former Commissioner for Lands said the plan was to increase rice production and create jobs for the youths in the state.
He explained that each of the 50 graduates would be provided five hectares of land, improved rice seedlings, agrochemicals and other incentives, to encourage them to produce rice for the mill.
“I am starting a programme through which I intend to engage out-growers, so that I can meet my target in feeding the processing mill.
“I want to get up to 50 graduates across the state, support them with improved seedlings, agrochemicals and other incentives.
“At the end of the harvest, the whole rice would be processed in the mill and supplied to buyers.
“By so doing, they will make money and be happy and I will be happy too, while Deltans will have more rice to eat.
“You can imagine what government can do in this direction too: the number of jobs to be created and the quantity of rice to be produced in the state will be enormous,” he said.
Guanah said that the farm had expanded, but was faced with the challenge of inadequate number of tractors to produce the required quantity of rice to feed the processing mill.
According to him, 10 additional tractors are required to meet the production need of the mill.
“What we need now are tractors; I have a rice mill but our current production capacity is not enough to feed it.
“We want to expand, we have acquired land across the state but we need tractors to be able to meet the processing requirement of the mill and timing is of essence in this regards.
“Because we do not have enough tractors, we cannot produce rice simultaneously in all our farms. For now, we have to move our tractors from one location, after a season, to another”.
He said the farm desired to engage in all season farming, but was constrained to do so now because of inadequate number of tractors.
He commended the state government’s plan to procure tractors for farmers in the state, and advised it to ensure that the real farmers got the equipment when finally delivered.
He called on the Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration to partner Guanah Farms through the provision of land and other incentives to boost rice production in the state.
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”.
