Agriculture
Council Allays Farmers’ Fears On Certified Seeds
The National Agricultural Seeds Council says efforts are being made to allay the fears of local farmers yet to fully embrace the improved seeds which the Federal Government is providing.
The Director, Seed Information and Capacity Building at the council, Mr KehindeAdelugba, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja recently.
The Tide reports that the seeds are given free of charge as part of the Growth Enhancement Support scheme under the President Goodluck Jonathan’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda, which seeks to revitalise the agricultural sector.
Many farmers yet to totally embrace the improved seed have been encouraged to do so, to boost crop yield through the use of upcoming pest-free, flood and drought-resistant seedlings.
“The problem is inadequate extension services; because the farmers are not aware, if the benefits of a particular crop is not demonstrated to them, they will keep up with what they have been doing before.
“In the past, in the North, most of the farmers didn’t use fertiliser because of the fact that they said fertiliser would destroy our land.
But now when the issue of fertiliser has been demonstrated, farmers now go to any extent to get fertiliser in order for them to be able to produce their crop.
“It’s the same thing that we are doing also with seed; because we found out that farmers think that their own seeds are better than the one they have.
“There is need for greater awareness in terms of demonstration; let farmers know what are the new innovations for production and let them be able to accept it.
“It is only when they are aware of something that they can accept it.
“That is what we are doing, carrying out demonstrations for farmers to be able to know the advantages of using improved seeds better than the one they are having.”
Adelugba further assured farmers that the council was capable of guaranteeing quality seeds through its well-trained staff, building capacity and ensuring collaboration with seed agencies in developed countries.
“The issue of capacity building is very important because seed all over the word is always improving.
“There are new innovations; there are new technologies coming into seed development and we need to keep abreast of what is happening in other countries.
“It is what you learn from other countries that will be able to benefit you; if you don’t try as much as possible to learn from what other people have learnt, you will be left behind.
“So, we try as much as possible to build the capacity of our staff.
“We build their capacity through training, study tours and attachment to some developed seed industries for them to be able to learn what is happening.”
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”.
