Agriculture
Jonathan Approves N14bn For 2014 Farming Season
President Goodluck
Jonathan last Monday, approved the disbursement of N14 billion for the expansion of 2014 dry season farming.
Jonathan gave the approval at the official launch of the Dry Season Farm Support Programme at the banquet hall of Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Tide reports that in 2013, the sum of nine million naira was approved for the dry season farming.
He assured that the fund would continue to increase as more farmers key into the programme.
The president said that the Federal Government would ensure that the dry season food support programme becomes a national food policy of government.
Jonathan also directed the ministry to ensure that the programme would commence not later than October of a preceding year.
“Our resolve to expand this dry season programme is strong and subsequently it has to come up in October so that they will get all that we need before the commencement of the dry season.
“To demonstrate this, I am today announcing N14 billion to support dry seasoning farming for 2014 season.
“As more states come on board we will continue to increase the amount of money.
“We will continue to work with farmers and that is why I am announcing today that the support will become a national policy.
“Our nation shall be green, our barns shall be filled and our farmers shall prosper,’’ the president said.
The president said that the programme was launched in 2011 with the goal of adding an additional 20 million metric tonnes of food to the country’s domestic food supply.
He said 600,000 farmers, representing an increase of about 1.5 per cent over the numbers of participants in 2013, had already registered for the programme.
Jonathan said that the administration would continue to expand the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) to reach many more millions farmers.
“It is our hope that we will reach 10 million farmers by the end of this year with improved seeds, fertilisers and other production imputes, including farms machinery hiring centres.
“The ministry is working to establish centres where tractors can be accessed at reduced prices. We are working to improve the access of farmers to markets.’’
He also said the administration had completed silos across the country with a total capacity of 1.3 million metric tonnes.
The president said the silos would be used to support private sector efforts to establish world class agricultural exchanges.
Jonathan said that the government would encourage the establishment of marketing corporations to replace the former marketing boards.
According to him, it will help to improve markets and trade opportunities for farmers.
Earlier, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, Rep. Mohammed Monguno, said that his committee would sponsor a Growth Enhancement Support Scheme bill aimed preventing policy somersault by successive government.
The Senate Committee Chairman on Agriculture, Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha, commended the GES and E-Wallet programmes of the government.
The Tide reports that Governors of Kebbi, Gombe and Kogi were at the launch and shared the level of growth of agriculture in their states.
Beneficiaries of the GES were also on ground to share their experiences. The beneficiaries commended Jonathan’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda.
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”.
