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The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has revealed that the second phase of the Dry/Wet Season farming intervention would commence this month to enhance productivity.
The Minister made this known during the courtesy visit by the Executive Governor of Umar Namadi of Jigawa State to his office, in Abuja on Friday, 5th January, 2024.
He stated that the visit signified the strong partnership between the State and the Federal Government in the collective efforts to ensure food security and development of Agriculture in Nigeria.
Sen. Abubakar expressed appreciation to the Governor of Jigawa State for his remarkable successes achieved in the preparation of farmlands and distribution of agricultural inputs in the ongoing wheat Dry season Farming under the NAGS-AP programme.
He recalled that on the 25th of November, 2023, the Executive Governor, the Emir of Hadejia and other dignitaries warmly received some Management Staff of the Ministry at the official flag-off of the 2023/2024 Dry Season Farming at the Kadume farm cluster in Hadejia.
He also extended his profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his unwavering support in the quest for food security in the country, adding that the Ministry is focused on ramping up massive production of staple crops using technology and mechanization to achieve the goal.
The Minister pointed out that, “It is imperative for us to tackle some of the challenges observed and ensure that they do not impede our agricultural development agenda”.
“These challenges include reported cases of round-tripping in connivance with agro-dealers and poor validation of farmers’ data in parts of the participating states” noting that the case of Jigawa State was remarkably different.
Speaking further, he stated that the Ministry was fully committed to addressing the issues and equally determined to implementing stringent measures in the forth coming Dry/ Wet season farming for rice, maize and cassava to ensure transparent distribution to genuine farmers.
He therefore urged all stakeholders in the agriculture sector to overcome the challenges and ensure a successful intervention despite the time constraints.
In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Jigawa State, Mallam Umar Namadi commended the Minister for all the support and confidence imposed in Jigawa State. He said his visit was home coming, pointing out that “I am here on behalf of the people and farmers of Jigawa State”.
The Governor thanked the Minister for giving Jigawa State the largest share of Wheat during the Wheat Dry Season Farming under the NAGS-AP programme.
He stated that despite the fact that Jigawa State has lot of challenges, as earlier mentioned by the Hon. Minister, not using the right farmers among other issues was quite challenging.
He assured that Jigawa State will continue to cooperate with the Ministry to achieve food security in Country, pointing out that presently, Jigawa State is updating their farmers register and by the time they commence the rice dry season farming, they will have a completed data base for rice farmers.
The Governor, also noted that the certificate to be issued to farmers will show their passport photographs, location of farmland to ensure that farmers in the State are properly guided.
