FG, state govt Flag Off GES In Jigawa

THE Minister of agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adeshina, has declared that the Federal Government has adopted the value chain approach to rebuilding the agricultural sector.  The minister made the disclosure at the flagging off of the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) where fertilisers were given out to farmers at Ringim Local Council area of the State.

The minister, who spoke through his representative, Ekeh James at the occasion, expressed dismay over some of the problems associated with the decline experienced in the nation’s agricultural sector, ranging from lack of fertilizer to low investment despite the abundance of land.

He said it is sad that the country would be spending $11B in importing basic food such as wheat, rice, fish and sugar when we can produce better quality of the same imports. He queried the prevalent poverty in the north in the midst of good agricultural land.

Speaking in similar vein, the Jigawa state Governor, Sule Lamido said he flagged-off the Growth Enhancement Scheme GES with a view to providing agricultural inputs such as fertiliser and seeds directly to the small holder farmers through Mobile phone E-Wallet System.

Lamido, who was represented by the Commissioner of Agricuture, Alhaji Rabiu Isah Taura pointed out that the state had from inception in 2007 expended over one and half billion on procurement of assorted fertiliser and distribution to farmers at subsidised rates.

The Governor explained that the GES programme is aimed at supporting farmers to have access to fertiliser at a subsidised rate in order to drive modern agriculture.

He disclosed that last year, Jigawa State had distributed seeds and fertilisers to 100, 751 farmers, adding that 71,534 farmers benefited and claimed the fertiliser at subsidised price and Paddy Rice Seed free during the dry season paddy rice production.

The governor said Jigawa State has procured 14,800mts of assorted fertiliser for distribution under the programme with farmers paying 50 per cent while the remaining subsidy on each bag of fertiliser will be shared between the state and federal government at 25 percent each.