Agriculture
Agricultural Goods Prices, Services Remain High After Xmas
The prices of consumer goods and services have remained very high even after the 2023 Christmas season and celebration.
Investigations by The Tide shows that the country has continued to experience hike in the prices of all commodities, thereby leading to financial pressure on consumers and families in recent times.
A visit to major markets in Port Harcourt such as Mile 3, Town Market, Rumuokoro and Rumumasi by The Tide after the Yuletide reveals that prices of food items, imported and local beverages remained high.
The cost of fresh tomatoes, pepper, yam , potatoes, cocoa yam and plantain slightly dropped by 0.05%.
The prices of 50 kg bag of stone free quality rice, such as Big Bull, Mama Gold and Mango, remained the same between #53,000 to #57,000, while the low quality ones can be gotten at #45,000.
The prices of perishable products have not changed: garri, a staple food and product from cassava is still #5,000 and above per basin, for the lower quality, and #7,000 and above for the higher quality.
A kilogram of frozen turkey still sells for #4,000 While the price of full frozen chicken still goes between #4,000 to #4,500, and between #7,000 and #9,000 for the larger ones such as broilers
A life chicken still sells for between #4,500 to #20,000 depending on the size..
Apart from the aforementioned items, further investigations showed that the price of virtually every item has gone up from the point of production to the final retailer.
Expressing disappointment on the market prices, a trader at Mile 3 market, Mrs. Ngozi Onuoha, said the prices of items cannot come down due to the high cost of petroleum products.
She noted that high cost of transportation has so much affected the cost of things in the market, adding, “expecting the prices to come down when the prices of fuel remains high is a mirage.
“The leaders do not care for the masses. There problem is their pockets and because they don’t even pay for what they consume, the prices does not matter to them.
Another business woman, Mrs Ifeoma Enyi, said the prices of products went up before the Christmas season and will continue to rise if the leaders would not take time to address the main causes of suffering in the country.
“Our economy is under pressure because of debt and bad leadership. We are naturally blessed by God, but countries without natural endowment are better than us”, she said.
By: Lilian Peters
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”.
