Agriculture
Bird Flu: Poultry Farmer Cautions Members
Following the disclosure last Thursday by the Federal Government of another outbreak of the dreaded bird flu otherwise known as Avian Influenza in 26 states of the federation, a poultry farmer in Rivers State, Mr Nicholas Frank, has called on poultry farmers in the state to seek the assistance of experts to avert spread of the virus in their farms.
Frank who spoke to The Tide in an exclusive interview on Monday said some of his members were yet to recover from the losses they incurred between 2015 and 2016 following the outbreak of the Avian Influenza Virus that led to the closure of eleven poultry farms and the death of two poultry farmers in Bauchi State.
According to the report, the virus has not only been recorded in 26 states but also in the federal capital territory, with over 3.5 million birds culled for two years.
Adding another dimension to the ugly development, the Zonal Secretary, Poultry Farmers Association of Nigeria, North-East, Mr Abdulraman Raji, said the nonpayment of compensation to farmers during the outbreak has been source of worry to members.
However, The Tide gathered that the Minister of Agriculture Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, had said during the week at a consultative meeting in Abuja, with stakeholders in the poultry industry, that a new strain of the bird flu virus (H5 N8) was reported in Kano State.
Poultry farmers at the meeting urged the federal government to complete the payment of compensation to farmers who lost millions of naira as a result of the previous outbreaks of the virus in Nigeria.
The Director General, Poultry Association of Nigeria, Mr Onallo Akpa, said the federal government had paid only N300 million to poultry farmers out of the N2 billion compensation it was supposed to pay farmers for culling 3.5 million birds between December 20014 and December 2016.
“Not less than 21 of our members were greatly affected in 2015. Out of this five have yet to be compensated.
“In 2016, six of our members were also affected and none of them have received any compensation”, he lamented.
Efforts to speak with the Director/HOD, Livestock and Veterinary Service, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Allswell Emejuru, before going to press was not successful. But a source at the ministry who craved anonymity said the government was on top of the matter.
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”.