Agriculture
Expert Tasks FG On Agric Value Chain
An agriculturist, Mr Ismail Olawale, says there is a need to create an enabling environment and conduct research in efforts to improve agricultural value chains in the country.
Olawale, who is an official of the National Agriculture Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), said this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos, Monday.
It was reported that an agricultural value chain, which entails the flow of products, knowledge and information between smallholder farmers and consumers, also offers an opportunity to boost the value of an agricultural produce at production, marketing and consumption stages.
Olawale said that the creation of an enabling environment for the development of effective agricultural value chains was the panacea to the challenges facing smallholder farmers.
“With the right enabling environment, effective agricultural value chains will provide information on market prices of farm produce, available technologies, agribusiness opportunities and technical know-how to boost the business of the local farmer,” he said.
The agriculturist reiterated the need to create an enabling environment and conduct adequate research in efforts to develop the country’s agricultural value chains.
“There are a lot of factors mitigating against the country’s agricultural value chains; the enabling environment for the development of efficient agricultural value chains is presently not available.
“Developed countries with effective agricultural value chains have a support system in place to aid the process.
“The agricultural value chain will not just work as a theory or a concept.
“Good policies must be enacted; good cultural, socio-political, economic structures and infrastructure must also be in place to influence the evolution of effective agricultural value chains,” he said.
Olawale said that an effective agricultural value chain system would help the local farmer to cut his losses, while providing the necessary information that would boost his business.
He stressed that there was a dearth of transportation and storage facilities for most agricultural produce in rural areas across the country.
“Loss of farm produce is very common in the country, owing largely to poor storage facilities and transportation systems.
“For example, tomatoes ferried from Kano to Lagos are packaged in local raffia baskets and transported in trucks for long hours. Obviously, the tomatoes would have lost considerable value before getting to Lagos.
“The local farmers are aware of this challenge; they count their losses before the arrival of their produce in distant markets but they have no idea of how to address the situation,” he said.
Olawale said that most smallholder farmers were ignorant of the concept of agricultural value chain, adding that there was, therefore, the need for consistent advocacy on the concept.
He also stressed the need to encourage the conduct of more research on how to develop effective agricultural value chains in Nigeria, just like what obtained in developed countries.
“We must start a very strong and consistent advocacy for the local farmer to understand the benefits of the agricultural value chain.
“We must also conduct investigations and surveys on how to develop and effectively manage our agricultural value chains,” he added.
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”.
