Agriculture
China To Partner Nigeria End Farmer/Herders Clashes – Envoy
The Chinese Government has expressed readiness to help Nigeria end the incessant farmer and herders clashes.
Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun, said his country is willing to set up a technology-driven cattle feed production project in the country.
Jianchun spoke in Abuja recently while on tour of just completed China-aid Nigeria Agriculture demonstration centre project in the company of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ernest Umakhihe.
He said the project, when completed, will be a training and demonstration centre for the production of cattle feeds.
Noting that the technology is already in place in over 100 countries, Jianchun said he would be seeking 20 hectres of land from the government to commence the project which he said will be economically viable to farmers and the country.
The Ambassador said he would be discussing the project with the Nigerian government, adding that what they only required from the government is the site for the project.
The envoy said: “I am planning to talk to the FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello, to give us 20 hectres of land to build twins hall technology.
“We use this technology to grow mushrooms for food to feed the cattles. We feed the people and then the animals. This will help curb the clashes between herders and farmers.
“We are ready from the Chinese side to bring the farmers to the demonstration centre to train them on technology.”
The envoy also noted that the just completed China-aid Nigeria Agriculture centre project will go a long way to improve agricultural production in the country.
“Food is security that everyone needs. Without Agriculture, the whole country cannot be stable. Every year in Chinese document in the front page, it is about farmers, and agriculture”, he stated.
Speaking further on the centre, the envoy said, “We need technology in the development of Agriculture. So I think that this demonstration centre can really perform such.
“This project is also called the ‘friendship’ project. We believe that Nigeria needs this kind of demonstration centre to cultivate more talented experts, technicians etc to improve our agricultural sector.
“I hope that this project is a starting point that the two nations can work together to bring more investment from international communities. We could solve food insecurity issues.”
Umakhihe promised that the government will take full advantage of the project.
He said “We want to be strong partners in this project. The Chinese and Nigerian government have had cooperation over several sectors. Having inspected what is in ground, this project is a worthy one and we will take full advantage of what we have seen.
He also revealed that the project is a grant from the Chinese government. “Understandably, it is not a loan but a grant from the Chinese government. For them to hand it over to government, they need to have a structure on ground and have a hand in running of the centre when it is fully operational,” he said.
The China-aid Nigeria Agriculture demonstration project is at Agriculture High-tech Abuja Industrial park, located in Bwari district. It is a technology research and training centre aimed at equipping farmers with modern day farming technology.
Federal Government and the Ogun State Government, on Wednesday, distributed farm inputs to farmers as part of effort to address food security challenge.
The State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Toyin Ayo-Ajayi, during the flag-off ceremony of Inputs Redemption Under The National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), in Ogun State, disclosed that beneficiaries of the gesture were primarily rice, maize and cassava farmers across the State.
Ayo-Ajayi commended the Ogun State Government for partnering with the government at the centre for the effort in supporting farmers with inputs that would bring about yieldings for local consumption and likely exportation.
She noted that government is supporting rice, cassava and maize farmers with inputs worth N212,000; N189,000 and N186,000 respectively.
The Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Kehinde Jokotoye, who represented the Commissioner in the Ministry, Bolu Owotomo, stated that traditional farmers are critical in food production, hence the need to encourage and support them with inputs that would bring about desired results during harvesting.
Owotomo said: “Let us make good use of this opportunity, so that the success of this phase will make farmers benefit more from the state and federal governments of Nigeria.”
Earlier, State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Oluwatoyin Ayo-Ajayi, appreciated the present administration for partnering with the federal government for the initiative, adding that the programme is designed to support farmers at the grassroots level in cassava, rice and maize with inputs such as, seeds, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, to boost their production and enhance their livelihood.
The Niger State Government has mapped out 10,000 hectares of farmland in Gbapo Community of Katcha Local Government Area of the State for smallholder farmers to benefit from the state government’s agricultural intervention programme.
Two thousand out of the 10,000 holders of the farmlands have already received inputs.
At a flag-off ceremony in Yinti Village, the facilitator of the programme, Shinkafan Nupe, Malam Idris Usman Makanta, assured the farmers of increased distributions to the mapped-out ten thousand (10,000) farmlands if farmers respond positively.
He explained that the commencement of the two thousand is to measure the positive response of farmers before obtaining full-scale support.
Malam Makanta stated that this initiative aligns with the farmers’ initial commitment through Niger Foods, whose mission is primarily geared towards establishing efficient and profitable agricultural businesses to support the present administration of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s quest to boost agricultural productivity in the state.
He also commended Niger Foods for their steadfastness and resilience in the effective implementation of the input financing scheme.
Makanta reiterated the commitment of the State Governor in making judicious use of the arable land in the state.
Shinkafan Nupe, therefore, urged the farmers to support the Governor by using the inputs wisely so that the dream can be actualised.
The Gombe State Government has empowered a total of 573,429 farmers and entrepreneurs under the 4th phase of the GO-CARES programme.
The programme was officially flagged off by Governor Inuwa Yahaya in another major step towards alleviating poverty and supporting the state’s vulnerable populations.
The Governor, while inaugurating the disbursement in Akko Community of Akko Local Government Area, restated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of vulnerable citizens in the state.
He was represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Salihu Baba Alkali, who is also the Chairman of the Steering Committee on GO- CARES implementation.
“The 4th phase of GO-CARES will directly and indirectly impact a total of 573,429 citizens across the state. Of these, 152,429 individuals will benefit directly through cash transfers, livelihood grants, agricultural inputs, and operational grants to small businesses”, he stated.
The Governor added that, “421,000 people will be indirect beneficiaries through infrastructural projects such as classroom blocks, healthcare facilities, WASH services, and rural infrastructure projects like culverts and drainages”.
Yahaya, reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the state’s most vulnerable citizens are not left behind in the state’s development.
According to him, “Earlier this year, on June 25, 2024, we flagged off the distribution of improved seedlings, fertilizers, and herbicides to less privileged farmers in Malam Sidi, Kwami Local Government Area, signaling the commencement of the 4th phase implementation of GO-CARES under Result Area 2”.
The Governor reiterated that these initiatives have had a significant impact on the livelihoods of beneficiaries and the overall agricultural sector.
He explained that, “Today’s ceremony marked the simultaneous launch of activities under all three GO-CARES Result Areas for the 4th phase. These areas include: State Cash Transfer Grants: 2,500 direct beneficiaries; Labour Intensive Public Works: 2,700 direct beneficiaries; Livelihood Grants: 10,000 direct beneficiaries; and Basic Services: 405,000 indirect beneficiaries”.