Agriculture
Use Farm Inputs To Meet Food Security – Chairman
The Executive Chairman of Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State, Hon. Sheriff Aderemi Adeojo, has charged the beneficiaries of the distributed agricultural inpauts to make good use of them to meet the aspiration of the State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on food security.
The inputs, which were distributed by Oyo State Agricultural Development Agency (OYSADA), through government’s support, according to the Chairman of the council, was aimed at ensuring a bountiful harvest in the next season.
Addressing the beneficiaries shortly after the distribution of the inputs to the farmers at Ido Local Government Secretariat, he commended the State Governor for his vision toward ensuring food sustainability across all the geo-political zones of the state.
The local government boss stated that the agricultural inputs given to the farmers are part of the programmes set aside by the State Governor to support farmers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hon. Adeojo said, “We have to appreciate our able Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, for supporting our farmers with these agricultural inputs, which I believe, will boost the farm products of the respective beneficiaries at the end of this farming season.
“I want all the beneficiaries to make good use of their inputs as this will not only boost their products, but also complement the efforts of the State Governor toward ensuring food security across the length and breadth of the state.
“We are farmers in Ido Local government and we have school of farmers right here in our secretariat where we train our farmers on innovations in farming and mechanized ways of farming.
“I want to assure all of you that are yet to be members of this school that we will register you free of charge and we shall continue to carry you along on the benefits we have for farmers in our capacity at this local government level.
“For those of you that benefited from today’s distributions, please make good use of them, and for those of you that are yet to benefit from the kind gesture of the State Governor, I’m using this opportunity to appeal to you to relax, your time will soon come.
“I want to remind you all that our talk-and-do Governor has again promised to assist another set of 10,000 farmers across the state. This, according to the Governor, is one of the palliatives set in motion to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal, so I believe you will all be captured in the next phase of the distribution”.
The State Coordinator for Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (N-CARES) Result Area 2, Mr. Kolawole Adewumi Bamigbola, gave the total number of beneficiaries in Ido Local Government as 90, comprising 80 cassava farmers and 10 tomatoes farmers.
He said, “each of the cassava farmers received 20 bundles of cassava cuttings, 2 bags each of NPK fertiliser and 1 litre of herbicide. While each of the ten tomatoes farmers received 25 sachets of tomatoes seeds, one and half bags of fertiliser, 1 litre of pre-emergence herbicide, and one liter of post-emergence of herbicide”.
Bamigbola further noted a that total number of 100 farmers received agricultural inputs in Eruwa, Secretariat of Ibarapa East Local Government.
In Aiyete, Secretariat of Ibarapa North Local Government, about 60 farmers, comprising 30 cassava and 30 maize farmers received agric inputs.
The total numbers of the beneficiaries covered so far in 12 Local Government Areas namely, Iwajowa, Kajola, Iseyin, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa North, Ido, Saki East, Oorelope, Olorunsogo, Oriire, Ogbomoso South, and Surulere, are 965 genuine farmers, comprising maize, tomatoes, cassava and rice farmers, in addition to other beneficiaries.
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”.
