Agriculture
FG, States To Establish Pesticides Factories …To Reduce Cost Of Crop Production
Governor Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State says state governments are working in close collaboration with the Federal Government to establish pesticides producing factories in the country.
Speaking to newsmen in Dutse recently, Abubakar stated that the collaboration was aimed at reducing the cost of crop production.
He stated that other state governments were working closely with the Federal Government to develop plans for the establishment of farm implement manufacturing and assembly plants in the country.
Abubakar stated that the aim was to assist farmers boost production and reduce cost of agricultural production.
“We are working with the Federal Government on best ways to create companies that will produce pesticides and herbicides so that they can be produced locally so that the price will reduce.
“The same thing applies to equipment mechanisation. We want to see how best we can partner so we can produce the farm equipment locally,’’.
He said the state government had invested N5 billion in its agricultural revolution within the past two years.
Abubakar said the investment went into agricultural loans to farmers, provision of farm inputs, support and empowerment to women and youths in agriculture with agro-processing and mechanical implements.
Others are training of youths and extension workers on pests control as well as farm input maintenance.
On wheat production in the state, the governor said the state produced 100,000 tonnes of wheat during the last farming season.
According to him, the state cultivated 40,000 hectares of wheat with the expectation of an average yield of 2.5 tonnes per hectare.
Abubakar noted the state was working on improved wheat varieties to increase production in the state.
He said the state also produced about two million metric tonnes of rice for the 2016/2017 dry and wet season farming.
“I believe the world average on rice is around 7.5 to eight tonnes per hectare which I am sure in the next one or two years, we will be able to reach that average.
“Today in Jigawa State, we are not looking at what other states are doing on rice production, we are looking at what China, Thailand, Brazil are doing.
“We know that some varieties in China and Brazil are doing 12 to13 tonnes per hectare so that is the competition.
“We will continue to support our farmers with research and development and quality seeds,’’ he said.
The governor advised various states to take advantage of the opportunities inherent in the production of crops which they had comparative advantage as the days of over-dependence on oil was over.
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”.