Agriculture
LASG Harvests 50 Tonnes Of Catfish
The Lagos State Government said it had harvested 50 tonnes of Catfish in six months since the introduction of the commercial Cage Culture System fish farming.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Oluwatoyin Suarau, said this during an inspection tour of the fish farm at the Agbowa-Ikosi Beach in Ikosi Ejirin Local Council Development Area of Lagos State.
He said that the new system was introduced by Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration to increase fish production and create more jobs for youths in the state.
The Tide source reports that on August 11, 2016, 60 youths were trained at the Agbowa-Ikosi Beach in Ikosi Ejirin Local Council Development Area of the state on the Cage Culture System, to promote fish farming and empower youths.
Suarau expressed delight at the success of the programme and encouraged youths to embrace fish farming as a big-time business to build a prosperous future for themselves.
The commissioner explained that the declining production by fishermen informed the policy shift of the government from capture fisheries to fish farming, otherwise known as aquaculture.
According to him, cage culture system is a cheaper method of fish rearing which allows for fish to be reared in their natural habitat.
‘‘For some years, the development of Aquaculture has existed as the utilisation of earthen ponds in the rural communities with close proximity to the Lagoon and other water bodies.
‘‘Currently, the use of concrete fish ponds in upland areas has gained wide acceptance and now the state has introduced the Cage Culture System by rearing the fish in their natural water bodies; this makes fish farming easier with less stress.
‘‘This system of fish farming is one of the ways employed by the government to maximise the benefits of the abundance of water resources which accounts for about 22 percent of the state’s landmass,’’ he said.
Suarau said that the Agbowa – Ikosi site was the starting point for the project which the government intended to replicate in Badagry, Eti-Osa, Ikorodu and Epe riverine areas of the state.
Also speaking, Special Adviser to Ambode on Food Security, Mr Sanni Okanlawon, urged other youths in the state to take advantage of the new fish farming initiative.
Okanlawon said that the state government was ready to partner with anyone or group willing to contribute to the food security agenda of the state government.
Also speaking, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Olayiwole Onasanya, described the system as an environmental-friendly way of increasing fish supply 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”.
