Agriculture
PAN Declares Readiness To Seek Government’s Intervention
The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Lagos Chapter, has stated its preparedness to embark on measures to elicit the government’s intervention in the sector.
Chairman of PAN, Mr Mojeed Iyiola, disclosed this in an interview with The Tide source recently in Lagos.
He said the poultry sector was experiencing trying times as they expected the government’s palliatives to start rolling in to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
“At the present, we are yet to receive any palliatives from the Federal Government, we are still hopeful as we expect to hear from them soon.
“We have been trying to reach both the state and several ministries of agriculture on several occasions to come to our aid in the sector.
“So, as an association, we intend to organise a rally, so that government can know that we need prompt intervention in the poultry sector.
“It is a soft appeal for quick intervention by the government on the poultry sector as so many farmers have closed their farms”, he said.
Iyiola also appealed to the Federal Government to grant poultry farmers access to import maize because the importers are crippling the activities of the sector.
“Most local feed millers and poultry farmers have folded up. The cost of feeding keeps increasing on daily basis.
“We appeal to the government to come to our aid, to allow the importation of maize by poultry farmers through our association.
“We want to import our own maize and not buy from the traders/importers, because they are ripping us off and are not considerate, they rather see us as competitors.
“When maize dealers eventually import it, they sell it at their own convenience and at a rate that will not be affordable to the farmers, they have monopoly over the sector.
“The price of poultry feeds keep changing everyday. Last week we bought a bag of layers feed for N10,000 but currently it sells for as high as N12,000 .
“The price of raw materials for poultry feeds is on the increase on a daily basis. This continuous price hike has kept poultry farmers in difficult times with many trying to break even.
“We are just trying to get by everyday, maize and soya is not easy to access, It is giving us problems”, Iyiola lamented.
According to him, “Wheat, which is an alternative that could be used, is even more expensive than the maize and you cannot compare the performance of wheat to maize.
“The energy level of maize is far higher than that of wheat. If we make use of 1kg of maize in feed preparation, then you need almost 2kg of wheat with some additional soya to get the desired results.
“This in turn makes our cost of production to go higher”, he concluded.
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”.
