Agriculture
Agric Ministry Constructs 1.21MW Power Projects
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) says it has installed 20,124 units of solar electrification facilities with a combined capacity of 1.21 megawatts.
It also constructed 105 classrooms, amd 15 public toilets.
FMARD, the arm of the Federal Government responsible for the development of agriculture in Nigeria, said it constructed the projects in various rural areas across the country between 2015 and 2022.
Disclosing this in a document obtained by The Tide’s source from the Ministry in Abuja, FMARD
It disclosed this in a document obtained by our correspondent from the ministry in Abuja, FMARD also revealed that it constructed rural roads during the period under review.
This, it noted, is a task that is majorly undertaken by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.
The document stated that the facilities were delivered under the Capital Appropriation, Constituency and intervention funds.
It read in part, “From 2016 to 2022, under Capital Appropriation, Constituency and intervention funds for the implementation of the rural infrastructure projects, the department constructed 1,583.2km rural roads.
“The department provided and installed 1,530 units solar powered/motorised boreholes and water treatment plants, provided and installed 20,124 units (1.207MW) solar electrification facilities, constructed 22 rural farm markets, 105 classrooms, 15 public toilets and 10 green houses”.
According to data in the document, out of the total demand for rural roads construction during the period, the FMARD was able to meet 29.4 per cent, leaving a deficit of 70.6 per cent.
The average per year was put at 23.24 per cent, while the deficit was 76.76 per cent.
It stated that out of the estimated 132,000km of rural roads, representing 68 per cent of Nigeria’s total road network, only 10 per cent had been developed for effective transportation, leaving rural to depend mostly on walking or trekking as a means of transportation.
“This form of transport limits their access to markets, value addition facilities, social amenities and increases the level of poverty among them,” the FMARD stated.
FMARD continued that, “The poor rural roads network induces the high cost of transportation; reduces ability to access high-quality inputs; limits the use of local markets for sales of their produce as well as the purchase of consumer goods and opportunities for off-farm employment.
“Poor road access has, nevertheless, put constraints for the rural poor in terms of access to other social infrastructures such as education and health facilities.”
It stated that rural access roads played a crucial role in promoting economic, social and cultural development, as improvement in road connectivity would encourage the production of perishable agricultural produce.
To clear concerns on why the agric ministry got involved in power, works and water projects, which should be handled by the Federal Ministries of Power, Works and Water Resources, the FMARD explained that the delivered facilities were not outside the mandate of its rural development department.
It said the department was envisioned to accelerate the transformation of the nation’s rural life and landscape through the provision of basic infrastructure on a sustainable basis.
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”.
