Agriculture
RSG Urges Stakeholders To Invest in Mechanised Agric
The Rivers State Government has called on corporate organizations and entrepreneurs in the state to take advantage of the favourable environment in the state to invest in mechanized agriculture as a means of boosting economic empowerment and employment generation.
The state governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, said the dwindling fortune of oil in the international market has made agriculture the most viable alternative source of revenue generation.
The governor stated this during NAOC’s 2015, Green River Project (GRP) and 19th Farmers Day Celebration at the Plant Propagation Centre, Obiafu-Obrikom, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Wike, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Ipalibo harry Banigo, said Agip Oil Company, through its Green River Project, had contributed immensely towards the development of agriculture in the State, by sustaining the programme for 19 years running.
He noted that the state government had seen a willing partner in furtherance of its agricultural revolution agenda, emphasizing that the state government would continue to support NAOC in its drive to improve the lives of farmers in the state.
The state chief executive explained that agricultural development would be accorded priority attention by the present administration as farmers would be granted soft loans and provided with improved seedlings to enhance food production.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented at the occasion by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural resources, Mr. Sunny Echono, said the Federal Government had initiated several agricultural programmes that would enhance the development of the sector such as e-wallet, financial inclusion to encourage private sector participation, and Green Aggregation Programme aimed at boosting food sufficiency in the nation.
Earlier, Vice Chairman/Managing Director, Nigerian Agip Company Limited, Mr. Massimo Insulla, said the farmers day had been aligned with the international Exhibition, Expo Milano 2015, holding in Milan, Italy, which is expected to attract about 20 million visitors from over 140 countries.
The General Manager, District, NAOC, Mr. Paolo Camevale, recalled that the Green River Project was established in 1987, with the objective of tackling food security and improve the livelihood of the host communities, adding that so far, about 35,000 farmers have benefited from various support inputs.
Governors from the South-South including Imo, and Abia States attended the programme.
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”.