Agriculture
Perm Sec Explains Delay In Poultry Farmers’ Payment
The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, (FMARD), Arc Sonny Echono, has said that the federal government may suspend the payment of compensation to poultry farmers whose farms were infected by the Avian Influenza (AI) popularly called bird flu pending when substantial progress on bio-security and other containment measures are put in place by the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) and the various state veterinary services.
In a statement obtained by our correspondent recently at the Federal Secretariat in Port Harcourt, the permanent secretary who spoke with stakeholders at a meeting held in the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja said about N380 million had already been paid to about 138 farmers.
He said while N643 million has been totally committed as compensation to 246 poultry farmers, 476 million was still required for the payment of compensation to the remaining 250 poultry farmers.
Also, a statement endorsed by the ministry’s Director of Information, Tony Ohaeri, explained that the federal government has noted with concern the discouraging disposition of PAN in the states in assisting state officials in efforts aimed at curtailing the spread of the disease.
He said such co-operations was needed in the creation of adequate sensitization and awareness among poultry farmers.
Echono emphasized the need for proper sensitization of the control of bird flu, proper adherence to on-farm bio-security, registrations of farms with State Directorate of Veterinary Services, and non –transportation of birds without authorization of state veterinary services.
He insisted that poultry farmers must adhere to government policy on non-vaccination against the disease and enforcing the restocking policy on affected farms.
The Permanent Secretary said the Ministry in collaboration with USAID and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) had conducted series of trainings and capacity building workshops on bird flu for federal, state and local government officials amongst others.
Echono further solicited the support of stakeholders in the renewed effort at controlling the spread of the bird flu virus, saying the role played by each stakeholder in the sector to control the disease becomes very critical to the overall success in the containment effort.
He attributed the new outbreaks of between July and September in Lagos, Rivers, Oyo, Ogun, Enugu, Abia and the FCT to non-compliance with bio-security measures in farms, disregard to public policy on the citing of farms amongst others.
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”.