Agriculture
Eurobase Partners Foreign Coys For Improved Agric Mechanisation
The Chairman of Eurobase Consult Limited, Don Ekesiobi, has said his company is partnering 10 foreign companies to supply affordable farm mechanisation to boost food production in the country.
Addressing members of the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), Ekesiobi noted that agribusiness should not be left to the government alone, but an enabling environment and some form of subsidy should be provided by the government for food affordability.
He said, “In order to boost sustainable agro production and food security, we carefully selected 10 among our foreign partners with good global impactful track record that can propel the development of Nigerian agricultural business sector.
“They have contributed in executing agro projects in different western and Asian countries that are self-sufficient in food production and have high volume of exported agro produce.
“We are bringing them to Nigeria to replicate same multi-billion Dollar agro business . We are in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to achieve this objective.
“Agricultural business is not just the business of government, although government is expected to create enabling environment and some forms of subsidy for food to be affordable to the poor.
“And that is why as a private organization when Mr President declared emergency on food security in Nigeria, which is in line with his eight-point agenda, we strategically aligned our programmes and policies in achieving the set objective, which will not only make food available, affordable and accessible, but create jobs and reduce poverty among women and youths through Agro mechanisation and food processing.
“Through strategic business partnership with developed partners, NGOs, farmers and commodities association, government agencies and individuals, we will capture food insecurity in Nigeria through sustainable farming practices that’s climate smart, value/nutritional driven and can satisfy the need of Nigerian people and the demand of international market.
“With our population as a nation, the level of innovation our group is bringing in farming will revolutionize or transform agro sector real time.
“If we engage intentionally within the agro value chain we can create hundreds of thousands of jobs, wealth and foreign exchange and at the same time end hunger which is the focal point of Mr. President but we have to be intentional and collaborative”.
He, however, disclosed that there will be a special Agro Equipment and Technology Expo Coming up on 16th and 17th April 2024, at NAF Conference Center Abuja”.
Ekesiobi further stated that the high import tariffs charged by the Federal Government on agro-equipment negate the food security agenda of the government.
He urged the Federal Government to review the high import tariffs on agro-equipment downwards to enable Nigerian farmers to afford them in order to boost food production in the country.
“Nigeria pays the highest import duty or tariff in the world on agro-equipment.
“My appeal to the government is that as Mr. President has declared a state of emergency on food security, he should remove import tariffs on agro-equipment at least for some time to enable Nigeria to balance very well in the quest for food security.
“The Federal Government should also make it easier for the clearance of these equipment. If government insists on collection of high import tariffs, the objective of achieving food security will not be realised.
“Agro-equipment takes high volume of space. If we ship three tractors, which are in one container, what the clearing agents are charging now is N15 million.
“This was the same agro-equipment we were paying N3 million for about three years ago. After the clearing, who will buy it at this high cost?
“The government should immediately make zero import duty on agro-equipment to enable Nigeria to attain food security. The earlier the government does it, the better for everybody”, he stated.
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”.