Agriculture
Community Blames Cultists Over Poor Farm Yield
It seems the last is yet
to be heard as natives and visitors from Emughan Community were yet to return to their homes months after several persons were killed by yet to be identified gunmen in Aminigboko, in the Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The fleeing natives who spoke to our correspondent said that apart from the fact that their farms have been plundered in their absence, their early return back home was indefinite.
The community committee chairman, CDC, Aminigboko, Mr. Chukwudi George who spoke to our correspondent on telephone said since the main occupation of the natives was farming, the future of the natives was better imagined than seen.
According to the CDC boss, the complacency from the ruling political class, elders and high level chiefs in the LGA was worrisome.
“That there has not been any vocal high profile person speak on the issue to alert the authorities is very unfortunate.
“Infact we are beginning to have a no confidence vote on our leaders for their continued complacency on the matter”, he said.
Most of the fleeing natives who have repeatedly refused to have their names in print have also spoken in the same vein.
One of them, though in his mid-forties, reputed to own one of the largest cassava farms in Aminigboko has continually lamented his ordeal.
According to him, the last time he ventured home, he was shocked to see more than three quarters of his cassava farm gone.
Continuing, he said as for his plantain and banana farms, the criminals who were allegedly occupying the community (despite the presence of men of the Nigeria police) have harvested all even as he said he would not be going home in the near future.
The Tide gathered that most of the fleeing natives were presently in Ahoada main town and its environs. It further gathered that while some have fled to as far as Bayelsa State and in Port Harcourt, few have found refuge in Abua Central, with recent reported unrest not helping matters.
One of the foremost fisherman from the community who also asked not to be named, painted a bleak future for the Aminigboko community.
In his words “Even if the people return home today it will take donkey years for them to stand on their feet.
“the farming spirit of Aminigboko people is dead and I fear that many of them will choose to live the rest of their lives elsewhere”, he lamented.
The big question on everybody’s lips however is, with the presence of the Nigeria police in Aminigboko for the past three months, who are those responsible for plundering their crops and domestic animals?
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”.