Nigeria extends second phase of dry season farming
By Omeiza Bilal
The Federal Government has revealed its readiness to extend the second phase of the Dry Season Food Production Programme under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NASG-AP) to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
This is even as the executive Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, states that previous anchor borrowers programme by the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), failed and could not achieve it aim, hence the need to transfer the funds to the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Minister, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, gave this assurance during the courtesy visit by the Governors of Kwara, Ondo, Taraba and Kogi States to the Ministry Monday in Abuja.
Only 15 states are participating in the first phase.
The Minister also revealed that the government in collaboration with the states would be setting up a NAGS-AP State working Committee chaired by the Executive Governor or his representative and the Committee while additional implementation guidelines for the Second Phase of the Dry Season Food Production Programme would be introduced.
The members of the committee according to him would include the Commissioner of Agriculture as Vice Chairman, Commissioner for LGA and Chieftaincy Affairs or his representative, State Coordinator of FMA&FS as Member/Secretary, NAGS-AP State Focal Point person; representative of the River Basin Development Authority (RBDA) covering the State; Representative of State ADPs among many others.
“There is no question that if we get things right now, and without an iota of doubt with all hands on the plough, future programmes and projects will enable us more seamlessly achieve all-year-round agricultural production with beneficial consequences for Economic Empowerment, Inclusivity and ultimately wider opportunities for Value Addition, Food and Nutrition Security as well as Industrialization.”
Speaking for the governors, AbdulRasaq, urged the Federal Governor to channel all the funds at the CBN meant for agricultural promotion to the Ministry of Agriculture.
“Our emphasis is that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is the rightful Ministry handle agriculture in Nigeria and should be the one stop shop.
“The previous programme by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, was a bit challenging and could not achieve what it wanted to achieve, is part of the reason we are here today.
“The issue of food security is paramount and is an emergency and we want to take advantage of the dry season farming. The Minister’s emphasis is on rice, cassava and maize for this dry season farming, and we want to engage in that direction and urgently make sure that Nigeria exports.
“What we are having now is the devaluation of our Naira, and our food is the cheapest in West Africa today and let us ramp that up and feed the world,” he said.
