Agriculture
Stakeholders Laud FG Over Food Security Council
Some stakeholders yester
day commended the Federal Government for inaugurating the National Food Security Council with a call for the inclusion of farmers in the council.
The stakeholders told newmen in Abuja that the inauguration of the council by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday was timely, saying that it would reinforce efforts to address the persistent farmers-herdsmen clashes across the country.
The National Secretary, Miyetti Allah, Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Baba Ngelzarma,said that the advent of the council was a welcome development.
Ngelzarma expressed the hope that the council would look into the root causes of the recurrent clashes between farmers and herdsmen, with a view to finding a lasting solution to the problem.
“The crisis has degenerated from a resource-based crisis to include other assets.
“The issue needs to be tackled holistically and I think that is what the Federal Government wants to do by inaugurating the council,’’ he said.
Pastor Segun Adewumi, the National President of the Nigeria Cassava Growers Association (NCGA), said that cassava farmers had been the main victims of farmers-pastoralists conflicts across the country.
He appealed to the council to work assiduously to tackle the crisis and boost the food security of the country.
Mrs Lizzy Igbine, the National President of the National Women Agro-Allied Farmers Association, however, underscored the need for the council to faithfully execute its mandate.
“Inaugurating a food security council is a good idea if it would work to fulfil its mandate and not end up like several other councils in the past,’’ she said.
Mr Onallo Akpa, the Director-General, Poultry Association of Nigeria, however faulted the membership of the council, saying that farmers and agricultural experts were not included as members.
“The members of the council are the same people in government who have been trying to solve those issues embedded in the mandate of the council, all to no avail.
“They are still the same people; so, I wonder the new thing they now want to bring to the table to solve these issues this time around.
“The government should have considered the appointment of members like agriculturists, farmers and other private sector individuals who are directly involved in the issues they want to tackle,’’ he added.
Mr Nnimmo Bassey, an environmentalist, nonetheless, commended the Federal Government for placing considerable emphasis on the country’s food security.
He advised the government to ensure policy coherence between the existing agencies in charge of food production and security.
Bassey urged the council to look into the recommendations of the 2014 Nigerian National Conference, particularly those relating to food and biosafety issues.
“The mandate and composition of the council is not appealing. Are farmers represented on the council?
“What will the council do with regards to oil spills in the Niger Delta? Are they to stop oil companies from polluting the environment through oil spills and gas flares?
“One pathway which agencies of the Federal Government are toeing that will subvert attainment of food security is the introduction of genetically modified crops, which is a major way of curtailing food sovereignty.
“This is because some of us believe that food security can only be achieved in the context of food sovereignty.
“It will be useful for the council to consider these points,’’ Bassey said.
Reports had that members of the National Food Security Council include the governors of Kebbi, Taraba, Plateau, Lagos, Ebonyi and Delta states
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”.
