Agriculture
Farmers Decry Devastation Of Community
The People of
Aminigboko Community Enughan, in the Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State have sent a Save our Soul (SOS) plea to the state government to come to the rescue of farmers in the community.
The community which was devastated by cultists for the past one year made the call as relative peace has returned to the community.
In separate interviews, some of the returning farmers who spoke to our correspondent said the situation calls for urgent government attention.
The farmer who pleaded anonymity said that during their absence, the presence of the police did not prevent the suspected cultists from ravaging their farms and domestic animals which they left behind.
The Tide gathered that most of the fleeing farmers has vowed not to return even though a new set of joint security personnel have been drafted to the community.
According to them, each time there was a change of guard, the cultists make brief appearances, boasting that they were still on ground.
They said a change of guard should only be effected after another shift has arrived in order to restore confidence on the operations of the security arrangement.
However, efforts to speak with the chairman of Aminigboko Community Development Committee (CDC), Mr Chukwudi Georgewill proved abortive but a source close to him which also asked to be named said farmers in the community need assistance from the state government.
According to the source, the Rivers State government through the Ministry. Agriculture should provide cassava cuttings, plantain seedlings and other agric inputs to enable the farming community come back to life.
Our correspondent who visited the community reports that the community has over grown bush which was scaring to few who have ventured to return.
Some of those seen making efforts to clear their compounds who spoke to our correspondent said so far the security personnel have been vary co-operative with the people.
One of the earliest returnees and also a chief who spoke under anonymity said the farmer has a long way to go.
He said the complacency of the political and chieftaincy class in the local government was instrumental to the escalation of the situation.
He opined that the involvement of this class of people in the crisis should not be ruled out as it has political undertones.
While appealing to his kinsmen to come back home, he warned those who had a hand in the crises to stay clear of the community for the meantime.
It would be recalled that yet to be identified gunmen invaded and killed a number of people in the community last December.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to Morocco, Senator Abdallah Wali (right), presenting N60m worth of rice to Sokoto State in Sokoto last Tuesday. Photo: NAN
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”.
