Business
Stakeholders Want Proper Management Of N200bn For Agric Value Chains
Agric commodities stakeholders under the auspices of the National Agricultural Commodities Projects (NACP), Wednesday, urged President Bola Tinubu to make judicious use of the N200 billion allocated to various agricultural value chains as palliative, for a lasting impact on food production, accessibility and affordability.
Referring to Tinubu’s speech to the nation on Tuesday, during a media conference in Abuja, the President, Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN)/ Lead Partner, NACP, Dr. Bello Abubakar Annur, said the President needs to involve the various commodities’ associations in making sure the money is adequately used for the purpose and not to allow those who do not understand the sector to handle it and at the end no meaningful impact would be made.
Annur, who spoke on behalf of the other commodity associations and farmers, commended the President’s address to the nation and explanation on various palliative measures, as well as how they intend to be executed to reduce impact of subsidy removal.
He said: “The President described the plan to spend the N500 billion ($652 million) package to boost the economy by easing transportation costs, boosting manufacturing, and enhancing food supply.
“It will also provide conditional grants to at least a million small businesses. To ensure affordable food prices, it is good that strategic reserves of grains will be released to households, and support for agriculture, including farmland cultivation, will be a priority.
“These plans demonstrate that the President is listening to Nigerians. The NACP supports the short and immediate terms efforts to ensure staple foods are available and affordable.
“The Group request that the planned release of 200,000 metric tonnes of grains from strategic reserves to households across the 36 States and FCT, to moderate prices, should include the leadership of NACP for easy access and equitable distribution to our teeming members, who constitute the bulk of the target beneficiaries.
“NACP should also be part of the distribution of 225,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer, seedlings and other inputs to farmers, in order to get to proper target so as to ensure productive achievement of our food security agenda.
“The focus on improving food production by supporting cultivation of 500,000 hectares of farmland and all-year-round farming practice is a welcome initiative
“NACP suggests that N200billion out of the N500billion approved by the National Assembly should be managed by a special team involving the entire Agricultural Value Chain to avoid the mistakes of previous administrations.
“Multi-stakeholder involvement in funds management and disbursement would ensure synergy and collective operations to the mutual benefit of all involved and the nation at large”.
Meanwhile, on the N50billion dedicated fund for the cultivation of 150,000 hectares of rice and maize, and N50billion for the cultivation of 100,000 hectares of wheat and cassava, he said, “We suggest the setting up of an implementation committee, membership of which shall include the National Presidents of the four priority commodities.
“The committee’s task will be to immediately design the strategy that will help to mop the unsold produce in the rural areas and turn them into local food derivatives”.