Agriculture
IFAD Provides Succour To Farmers In Bayelsa
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has provided succour as palliatives to Bayelsa farmers and incubatees affected by the recent flood.
The intervention programme is part of IFAD’s support for farmers in nine states to cushion the effect of the devastating floods that effected parts of the country.
The Tide source reports that the items distributed are 100 cartons of agro chemicals, 7500 plantain suckers, 700 Bundles of Cassava stem, 100 cartons of day old chicks.
Others are 360 bags of poultry feeds, 360 bags of fish feeds of different ranges, 2000 assorted edible tree crops,
270 bags of NPK Fertilizer, 350 packs assorted vegetable seedlings and economic trees.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony at the School to Land premises in Yenagoa recently, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr David Alagoa, expressed profound gratitude to IFAD for the support to farmers.
He said it was a demonstration of IFAD’s interest in the development of agriculture in Bayelsa.
The commissioner stated that Bayelsa experienced the most castatrophic flood in recent times which led to loss of crops and fishing farms as well as poultry farms.
He added that the intervention was timely as it would in the short, medium and long time, cushion the loss suffered by farmers during the floods.
Alagoa said the palliatives incubated by IFAD and Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Project for the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) was to cushion the effect suffered during the flooding and noted that in real terms, the incubatees had not lost anything as succour came from IFAD.
”Let me thank IFAD for what they are doing in the state today. Clearly it suggests that they have interest in the development of agriculture in the state.
“We all experienced perhaps the most castatrophic flood that we ever had. Bayelsa indeed was the worst of all flooding.
“As we speak now, anybody who comes with an intervention programme clearly suggest that they take the state at heart and what they brought we receive them with great thanks.
“The flag off is on agro inputs because IFAD collaboration is on agriculture and so with the state government, we have come together to give palliatives to Bayelsa farmers and incubatees who are affected.
“So you can see there are cassava stems, plantain suckers, day old chics economic trees and fish feeds and these are the areas they were trained by IFAD through the state government.
“They have even gone beyond that to give us economic trees, assorted seeds, fertilizers and so we are very happy with what IFAD has done in the state,” he said.
In his remarks, the State Project Coordinator, Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Project for the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), Mr Panebi Ugo, commended the state government’s developmental strides particularly in the agricultural sector.
He pledged the committment of IFAD/LIFE-ND in the realisation of the objectives of the Ministry of Agriculture, adding that the distribution of agro inputs to flood impacted farmers and LIFE ND incubatees was part of IFAD intervention to mitigate loss suffered by farmers during the floods.
“As we speak now, anybody who comes with an intervention programme clearly suggest that they take the state at heart and what they brought we receive them with great thanks.
“The flag off is on agro inputs because IFAD collaboration is on agriculture and so with the state government, we have come together to give palliatives to Bayelsa farmers and incubatees who are affected.
“So you can see there are cassava stems, plantain suckers, day old chics economic trees and fish feeds and these are the areas they were trained by IFAD through the state government.
“They have even gone beyond that to give us economic trees, assorted seeds, fertilizers and so we are very happy with what IFAD has done in the state,” he said.
In his remarks, the State Project Coordinator, Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Project for the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), Mr Panebi Ugo, commended the state government’s developmental strides particularly in the agricultural sector.
He pledged the committment of IFAD/LIFE-ND in the realisation of the objectives of the Ministry of Agriculture, adding that the distribution of agro inputs to flood impacted farmers and LIFE ND incubatees was part of IFAD intervention to mitigate loss suffered by farmers during the floods.
A farmer, Mrs Evelyn Peremoboere, commeded IFAD for the palliatives, saying that the support from IFAD would enable them to start up their farm business.
Reports that IFAD assisted LIFE ND, in collaboration with Bayelsa Government, is also providing training to thousands of youths in Bayelsa and empowering them to self sufficiency.
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”.