Agriculture
AfDB Donates Kits, Motorcycles To Livestock Trainees
The African Develop
ment Bank (AfDB) supported Community-Based Agriculture Development Project (CBARDP) has donated artificial insemination kits and motorcycles to 15 trainees from Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna and Kwara states.
Speaking at the occasion in Bauchi, Alhaji Ibrahim Arabi, the Project Coordinator, explained that the 15 artificial inseminators, three from each state, were trained to provide livestock artificial insemination services to their various communities.
Arabi said that improving the production capacity, using this technology, had become necessary following the low level of milk and meat production of local breed.
“If our local breeds are improved, it will improve the milk, meat and other dairy products supply, to meet the protein needs of Nigerians, ‘’ he said.
Arabi said that the project was part of the agricultural production outreach programme for crops and livestock of the AfDB supported CBARDP in the five project implementation states.
According to him, the measure is also aimed at providing the needed expertise to the indigenous people, with a view to sustaining the programme after the expiration of its mandate in December 2013.
‘’These trainees are expected to continue providing artificial insemination services to their communities, with a view to sustaining the project for continuity.
‘’That is why today, we are empowering them with 15 artificial insemination equipment and 15 motorcycles, to enable them go back to their communities and provide the services.
“Under the livestock development outreach programme, we procured a consultant and signed a contract of N53 million with NASRU Nigerian Ltd., to inseminate 500 cattle, that is, 100 in each of the participating states.
‘’They have also trained 45 pastoralists on powder production, utilisation and conservation. They also trained animal community health service providers for the benefit of our livestock farmers,” Arabi said.
The coordinator explained that the CBARDP, which also included capacity building and community development, was worth 20 million dollars.
He said that the project was funded by AfDB, with contributions from the Federal Government, the five participating states, the 45 participating local governments and 135 benefitting communities.
Arabi called on the participating states, local government areas and the communities, to give the necessary support to the inseminators, to enable them carry out their task for improved livestock production in the country.
He thanked the participating states for the prompt payment of their counterpart fund for the past eight years.
The Director, Bauchi Green House of the Federal Alhaji Mohammed Yusuf, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in his speech, called on farmers to embrace the technology, which he said, had the potentials of enhancing the production capacity of their cattle.
Speaking on behalf of the trainees, Dr. Yusuf Azare, thanked the AfDB-CBARDP for the gesture, promising that they would be committed in discharge of their responsibilities.
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”.
