Agriculture
FG Begins TraderMoni Disbursements To Vulnerable Nigerians
As part of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, the Federal Government has commenced provision of financial assistance in the form of grants and loans ranging from 20,000 to 50,000 naira each to 5,485 “vulnerable” young people and women.
This assistance is being provided through the TraderMoni and MarketMoni programmes.
A statement issued by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, said the payments was expected to commence yesterday in Delta and Bayelsa States.
Last week Wednesday, the Minister was in both states in order to announce the payouts and offer her condolences to the local populations in the light of grant disbursements.
“The Grant for Vulnerable Groups (GVG) programme is meant to deliver a one-time cash grant of N20,000.00 to the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians in rural areas within Delta and State. We hope to present the prize to around 3,000 deserving individuals in each of the state’s 25 local government districts.
“It is essential to make it clear that women must make up 70% of these recipients, while children must account for 30% of the total.
“In addition, the President has required that at least 15% of all beneficiaries go specifically to citizens who have exceptional needs. These citizens include those who have been internally displaced, persons who have impairments, and senior citizens who live in the State”, she said.
According to Farouq, the GEEP program will lend a total of N300,000 to rural farmers, in addition to providing loans totaling N50,000 to “underprivileged and marginalized youths in Nigeria aged between 18 and 40 years”, N50,000 to “underprivileged and marginalized women in the society with a special focus on female-headed households”, and N50,000 to “underprivileged and marginalised youths in the society aged between 18 and 40 years.”
During the first round of the programme, a total of 33,838 potential beneficiaries were registered across the 28 LGAs that make up Delta State. 11,991 of those votes were found to be legitimate, and 4,754 were counted.
According to the statement, “there were a total of 4,657 people selected as beneficiaries to receive money.
“Beneficiaries of the GEEP who have been selected to get credit notifications from Access Bank can begin doing so immediately, by the grace of God.
In addition, the minister mentioned that President Muhammadu Buhari had authorised the release of “12,000 metric tons of diverse food commodities from National Strategic Reserve for distribution to victims of this flood tragedy in the country as a measure to alleviate their suffering.
“The victims of the flood tragedy in the State will receive 105 metric tons of maize, 88.7 metric tons of sorghum, and 98.7 metric tons of garri as a result of this”, he said.
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”.