FG Targets 600,000Tonnes Of Tubers, Cereals

The Federal Government, has disclosed plans to enhance the national yield on tubers and cereals by an incremental 600,000 metric tonnes (MT) per annum through the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) Scheme.

Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who stated this at the roll-out of seeds and fertilisers for small scale farmers in Abuja recently said the government intends to help farmers raised their average income from N50,000 per annum to about N116,500 representing a 233 per cent increase.

He said “the design of the scheme apart from encouraging the participation of almost 46 million Nigerians in agriculture also creates directly an additional 174,100 jobs and the fertilizer distributor supply chain at agro dealer network at ward levels.

He added that the scheme would break the cycle of inefficient fertilizer support delivery to farmers and ensure that the nation’s huge investments in the sub-sector reaches the targeted beneficiaries.

Dr. Adesina said the scheme would also lead to increased use of fertilizer and boost production and improved food security which the government has targeted to hit 50kg/hectre by 2015.

While highlighting the benefits of the GES, he explained that it will provide a platform for a new course of action structured to help Nigeria’s small holder farmers, adding that it reduces governments’ financial outflow requirements.

Among others, he said it would build agricultural capacity, increase extension agents’ knowledge and add value to their community with an increase in awareness of proper use of fertiliser application by farmers.

He assured that the scheme will give a uniform GES to farmers across the country based on existing price for a bag of fertiliser at any particular time, adding that the ministry will work with relevant stakeholders including the organised private sector and farmers associations to ensure maximum availability of fertilizers across the country.

He informed that the scheme was designed as a vital component of the agricultural transformation agenda, (ATA) of the Goodluck Jonathan administration.