Ogun State government has distributed farm inputs to 3500 cassava farmers under the state Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP).
The state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, disclosed this on Monday, during the official flag off of the 2020 season and distribution of inputs to first batch of cassava value chain beneficiaries under the Anchor Borrowers Programme.
Governor Abiodun said: "In the past three weeks, a total of 3,500 Ogun ABP nominees have been credited with funds, and linked with inputs (weed killers and fertilizers) and fields ready for tilling and planting of improved and disease-resistant Cassava varieties to be supplied.
"This unprecedented feat continues to make Ogun ABP exemplary. The registration figures keep rising daily, and today, up to 60,000 registrations have been recorded for seven commodities, with Cassava hitting a record high of 25,000 applications.
"Our Administration is determined to guide our ABP nominees to productivity and increased prosperity. We are convinced that this will encourage other youths and farmers".
Great Achiever Magazine reports that the governor said 2,497 farmers were credited with N500Million in March, 2020 by CBN, while an additional payment of over N180Million was credited to additional 900 farmers on Wednesday, 29th April, 2020 by the CBN, leaving a balance of N20Million to be credited to 103 farmers.
He also disclosed that a total of 3,500 farmers would represent the first phase of disbursement of fund to cassava farmers who claimed to own their farmland; and have been mapped and geo-tagged by the CBN to totally eliminate the issue of fake and absentee farmers.
The governor further said: "I am proud to say that Ogun State is running an exemplary Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) that is transparent, and a not-business-as-usual type.
"Our extension agents have identified and located all 3,500 Cassava farms for hitch-free input distribution and allocation. The system put in place by the State Government, CBN and the National Cassava Growers Association (NCGA), is technology-driven and gives no room for sale and diversion of inputs.
"Let me reassure all of us that we will fulfil our earlier promise of providing free supplementary extension services. In addition, to those embedded in the Economy of Production (EoP) for ABP, we will ensure that Ogun State farmers attain high competitive yield that guarantees profitability which encourages continuous engagement in the value chains and also serves as source of encouragement for others".
The governor reiterated that the goal of the Agricultural sector as outlined in the government road-map is to ensure food security, by linking small holder farmers to industrial opportunities of supplying their produce to factories and processors.
He assured that his administration will support the famers with input linkage, credit and training that would enable them make profit as suppliers of raw materials, and also encourage other farmers and young people.
Abiodun said: "We have also provided linkage to credit and inputs which will follow preferred crops by off-takers; financial anchors and offtake; and market capacities.
"In addition to the 3,500 jobs that have been created, additional 2,500 hectares of land is being cleared in 16 locations in all Agricultural zones in the State; which are to be allocated to 2,500 youths already registered for ABP.
"These youths would also be linked to additional N530Million by CBN, with same quantities of 60 bundles of improved cassava stems; 4 bags of fertilizer and different types of weed killers, as it is witnessed today.
"We have also taken delivery of herbicides/weed killers for the initial 2,497 farmers. These herbicides/weed-killers are already in Ogun State Government-owned warehouses at Ilaro, Ijebu-Ode and Abeokuta.
"This is just as fertilizers are being moved to these warehouses, which would also be distributed to the beneficiaries at the confirmed/advised point of use".
Governor Abiodun explained that other non-ABP farmers will continue to benefit from other Agricultural interventions, as it is currently being experienced in Rice, Aquaculture, Poultry and other value chains, saying that it is also important to state that registration for the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) is a continuous exercise which is done either through the State Job Portal, at the Ministry of Agriculture or Local Government Area Offices.
He said that he has directed the Ministry of Agriculture to continue to provide farming support to farmers and private sector players during this period, to ensure Food Security, Agro-Industrial activities, Linkages and Job Creation, which have been well recognized and lauded nationally and internationally.
According to the governor, all nine (9) Agro-Service Centres in the State have enough seeds and other agro-inputs required to support 2020 farming activities; and other non-ABP farming support like the Ogun Broiler Project, Rice Intervention in Mokoloki/Ofada, Eggua in Yewa and other locations would be sustained.
He said: "As I mentioned earlier in my speech on COVID-19 coping strategy, we have modified our road-plan for Agriculture in 2020, to include Residential Training of Additional 5,000 Youths in all LGAs, as part of our response to COVID-19-induced food challenges.
"These youths would be trained in specific value chains, with support from Government, to form part of our Food Vanguards to combat any envisaged food crisis. The modalities for enrolment and support would be rolled out soon.
"In all, our Administration will continue to prioritize Agriculture by providing support for food production, processing, value addition and product development activities, by encouraging investors who might want to take advantage of the abundant resources of Ogun State and our geographical location, to partner with us to achieve our mandates and goals in Agriculture.
"We will also continue to collaborate with private sector players; and, National and International organizations. As a responsive and responsible Administration, we will continue to provide the enabling environment required to drive the process of Agricultural development and investment promotion in the Agriculture value-chain in Ogun State.
"I therefore wish to extend our clarion call to all domestic and foreign investors to explore the investment opportunities that abound in the Agricultural sector of our dear State", he said.
.png)
No comments:
Post a Comment