The Federal Government says it is overhauling the implementation guidelines for the second phase of the Dry Season Farming. This it says became necessary to avoid the glitches experienced during the implementation of the first phase last year.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari disclosed this on Monday when he received governors of Kwara, Taraba, Ondo, and Kogi states in his office.
The visiting Governors are, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State who is also the chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, Dr. Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, and Alhaji, Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State.
The minister said the visit of the governors is without a doubt a huge endorsement for the progressive drive towards the much-needed collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and State Governments, with a view to creating an Agricultural Sector fit for a nation as endowed as Nigeria.
He commended the efforts of the governors to promote agricultural productivity in their respective states, informing them that the bigger picture the government seeks to create now is to vastly increase agricultural production all-year round with the cardinal objective of driving down food inflation, creating employment, reducing poverty, engendering economic growth and development, as well as promoting inclusivity.
“We are confident that we can partner in the realization of these objectives,” he said, adding “Ahead of the second phase of the Dry Season Food Production Programme under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NASG-AP), I sent out Expression of Interests to the Governors of the 36 States and FCT to which responses have been encouraging.
“We are putting behind us the challenges encountered during the First Phase of the Dry Season Farming with Wheat in 15 participating States. After detailed and careful evaluation of some of the glitches that characterized that phase, and with collective stakeholders’ proposals, there will be additional implementation guidelines for the Second Phase commencing soon.
“These guidelines include among others; There shall be established, a NAGS-AP State working Committee chaired by the Executive Governor or his representative and the Committee should consist of the following members: Commissioner of Agriculture – Vice Chairman; Commissioner for LGA and Chieftaincy Affairs or his representative; the State Coordinator of FMA&FS – Member/Secretary; NAGS-AP State Focal Point person;
Representative of the River Basin Development Authority (RBDA) covering the State; Representative of State ADPs;
Representative of ICT Service Provider servicing the State + representative of Data Clerk; Representative of relevant commodity associations; Representative of Security agencies.
“Others are, Representatives of:- Bank of Agriculture; Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL PLC); All Farmers Association of Nigeria and Representative of the Traditional Rulers.
“In restructuring the guidelines for this second phase, the expectation is that Governors or their designated representatives will chair the Implementation Committee at the State Level. Among others, the task of the Committee will be to ensure compliance with guidelines for the redemption of tokens for agro inputs, apprehending and dealing decisively with cases of portfolio farmers, round-tripping, and infusion of substandard agro-inputs into the distribution chain of certified and premium quality seeds, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and micro-nutrients.”
Senator Kyari informed the governors that the second phase of the dry season farming is particularly crucial because, unlike the phase one for Wheat Production, which involved only 15 States, the second phase will cover the entire country.
According to him, “We will therefore, like you to use the instrumentality of your offices as Governors to ensure the readiness of your respective States for optimal participation in this second phase for the cultivation of rice, maize, and cassava.
“Among the readiness criteria that we would like to reiterate for this phase are that the land is prepared and available for immediate cultivation; that the irrigable lands are allotted or owned by verifiable genuine farmers; and that the state is participating to the last mile of the entire chain.”
Responding on behalf of his colleagues, the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, commended the pragmatic leadership of the Minister, noting that he has shown that there is indeed a new Ministry of Agriculture.
He said over the last four years, prior to this administration, the engagement with the ministry of agriculture had not been productive, because, according to him, the Central Bank of Nigeria took over most of the things that the Ministry of Agriculture used to do. “But now there are strong engagements and a sense of purpose. That is why you have serious engagements from the governors, we want to move on quickly.”
He promised full cooperation of the state governors with the Ministry because according to him, “We want to provide food for our people and rescue them from poverty.”