Agriculture
Era Of Lip Service To Agric Dev Over – RSG
Rivers State Governor, Barr
Nyesom WIke, has said that the government was poised to go beyond lip service in the area of agricultural development.
The governor who stated this on Monday during the celebration of this year’s World Food Day in Port Harcourt, explained that the government has put a lot of resources into agriculture and agribusiness in the state.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Mrs Ipalibo Banigo, the governor restated the new Rivers Vision in agriculture to make food available to every family in the state.
She said it was based on this that the government undertook the development of road infrastructure in the various communities.
“And this roads development is aimed at ensuring that food can be accessed from our food basket and the possibility of transportation of food to the places were it will be commercialised.
“Of recent, the Governor- commissioned the Igwuruta Etche road and he has also flagged of the Abua-Degema road.
“All these roads you notice are deep in communities where there is a lot of food production but bringing them out has been a problem,” she said.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt, Prof Blessing Didia who chaired the event while declaring the celebration open, explained the effect of climate change in agriculture, said, the climate was not only changing but it has changed.
He said, since the change in climate was a continuous process, the method of planting, harvesting and storing should also be changed.
He noted that climate change has not only affected agriculture and farming but also affected the way pests, birds, insects and animals move and behave.
According to Didia, it was unreasonable for farmers to depend on luck in order to achieve high input in the farms.
“I want to encourage the Ministry of Agriculture that it is not just talk talk, we must stop talking and begin to act,” he said.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Onimim Jacks explained that the ministry had the tasks of creating and promoting a conducive environment for agriculture investment and production.
She said the ministry organised statewide agric awareness campaign programmes to mark the World Food Day.
According to the agric boss, the event was aimed at putting all stakeholders in the agric value chain to showcase and educate farmers and the public on agricultural procedures, technology and best practice.
According to her, food and agriculture cannot change except there was a change of attitude by farmers, policy makers, government and technology development in the area of farming technique.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, Hon Chisom Dike, President, Port Harcourt Chambers of Commerce Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Dr Emi Otaji and a representative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), amongst others.
Prizes of best cassava farmer, best plantain producer and best ruminant farmer went to Lucky Ledogo from Khana, Christiana Amadi, Etche and Charles Promise from Oyigbo in that order.
The theme of this year’s celebration is “The Climate is Changing and Food Agriculture Must Too.”
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”.