Agriculture
NIHORT Trains 200 Women, Youths On Plantain Value Chain
In a bid to align with the Federal Government’s paradigm shift from petroleum based economy to agriculture, the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) has trained 200 farmers on plantain value chain in Delta State.
The training and empowerment programme, organised and supervised by NIHORT in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, was aimed at improving the livelihood of the farmers, not just in Delta State, but also across the country where similar programmes have been held and are to be held.
The beneficiaries are mostly women farmers and unemployed youth in Ndokwa West Local Government, Ndokwa East Local Government, and Ukwani Local Government Areas of Delta State, Nigeria.
The Executive Director of NIHORT, Dr. Mohammed Lawal Attanda, who was represented by Director of Research, Dr. Ephraim Nwanguma, said the training will equip women and youth with skills and competencies necessary in plantain value chain that will ensure sustainable agricultural development, improve individual income and economic empowerment.
He also noted that the Federal Government’s efforts and focus on agriculture to strongly drive the diversification of the country’s economy, will be enhanced through the training, saying, “The training would promote food security, employment opportunities, wealth creation and improve household income.
He said the institute’s mandate is to conduct research into genetic improvement, production technologies, processing, storage, utilization and marketing of fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants and spices.
He added that NIHORT has competence in building the capacity of stakeholders in arrays of horticultural crops such as plantain, banana, citrus, mango, tomato, pepper, Irvingia, and mushrooms across the country.
The Coordinator of the workshop, Dr. J. A. Akinfasoye, gave an overview of the workshop, and what the participants should expect during the training.
He also encouraged the participants to fully participate in the workshop to acquire the knowledge and skills that would enhance their livelihood and the development of the country.
The Managing Director of the consulting firm, GAKFAWS Investments Consult Ltd, Ambassador Chibuzor Okereke, in his remark, appreciated the Federal Government for the empowerment programme to alleviate poverty of the populace.
He expressed gratitude to the lawmaker for facilitating the training programme, and encouraged the participants to transfer the skills acquired to others.
The training was aimed at promoting food security, employment opportunities, wealth creation, household income, and health status of the populace.
It covered plantain ripening and areas of intervention, value added products from plantain, pre-processing operations, modes of drying, packaging, storage, flow chart for processing plantain products, plantain chip processing business and economics of plantain value addition.
Participants at the training commended NIHORT and promised to put into practice all the knowledge acquired from the training. They also affirmed that the commodity value chain has potential to contribute to food security, generate employment and sustainable livelihood.
Two of the participants bared their minds after the training: Mrs. Fidelia Oyemike said she has a better understanding of the plantain value addition, while Mr. Achudume David said he was impressed with the training and planned to start his cottage processing.
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”.