Food and Agriculture
FG To Deploy ICT-based Platform to Leverage on Delivering Farm Inputs
For effective delivery of farm inputs, the Federal Government said it had taken steps to leverage the efficient implementation of the rebranded National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-pocket, (NAGs -AP), . adsbygoogle || []).push({}); [adrotate banner="51"]
Mr Ibrahim Arabi, National Programme Coordinator, Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
He said that the proposed technology would ensure that farm inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, and agrochemicals, among others, got to the farmers across the country.
Arabi said: “We are using an ICT platform delivery system to leverage the system of distribution, we are going to include the farmers and farm inputs in the system to make it an ICT treatment and transparent.”
He said that the recent NAGS meeting was organised to sensitise farmers and fashion out the way forward in the implementation of the scheme.
“This meeting is on the strategy to support farmers with subsidised inputs and also with the institutional capacity for increased productivity,” the coordinator said
On whether the inputs were affordable, Arabi said the Federal Government was giving out about 80 per cent subsidy of the commodity to the farmers.
According to him, the government is using the ICT platform to ensure that farmers have smooth delivery of inputs for the 2023 farming season.
Arabi said that delivery of the inputs would be perfected and the mistakes of 2022 corrected to ensure a seamless delivery of the farm inputs.
Also speaking, Mr Ishaku Buba, Deputy Director, Growth Enhancement Scheme in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the government was creating a system to evaluate its support to the farmers.
He said: ” We are creating a system whereby we will be able to see the impact of the government on the farmers.
”For instance, I supported you, I met you at this level, and I want to know the impact of what I have supported you with.”
Buba said the distribution of inputs would soon start, adding that the government was targeting the right time of farming activities.
On the cost of inputs such as fertilizers, he said that the cost was dynamic depending on the prevailing market price of the commodity.
“On cost, we look at the prevailing market price and put our subsidy based on that, we cannot fix the price in January and then use it now it is dynamic.
“We have looked at the climatic conditions, we know the procedures to follow for the planting season and we are targeting this period.
“The distribution of inputs will take two to three weeks, but we will start with the seeds. We’ll show the farmers how to apply the seeds very well so that we can get a better result from them,” Buba said.
Mrs Mary Afan, President of the Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation (SWOFON), said that the women were waiting for the Federal Government to distribute the farm inputs.
According to her, fertilizer which was bought in the market at the rate of N27,000 or N30,000 a bag in 2022, had increased to N35,000 and N38,000 per bag.
She urged the government to consider giving more incentives to the farmers so that they could increase production.
Meanwhile, the Fertiliser Producers, Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN) has blamed the current hike in the price of the product on foreign exchange.
Mr Gideon Nagedu, the association’s Executive Secretary, said almost all the blending materials for fertilizer were imported.
Nagedu told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja that the current policy on forex had drastically affected the price of the commodity.
According to him, in June, the price of a 50kg bag of fertilizer was as low as N18, 000, adding that at the moment, it had risen to N25, 000 to N26, 000. respectively.
Nagedu said: “Interestingly prices of fertilizer have been fluctuating as a bag of 50kg fertilizer that sold as high as N29,000 last year, just a month ago came as low as N18,000 and in some places N20,000.
“ But, suddenly a change in foreign exchange eventually skyrocketed the price of the product. Most of the blending materials for fertilizer are imported.”
In another development, some farmers in Abuja have decried the high cost of farm inputs, saying this would have a negative impact on food security.
They said only a few farmers have the resources to buy fertilizers and pesticides to apply on their farms.
Mr Adams Dogo, a farmer in Bwari Area Council said the price of a bag of fertilizer was high, contributing to the low crop production yield.
He said: “Most of us local farmers in the rural areas find it very difficult to buy fertilizers and pesticides that we need on the farm, most times we use local means to help boost our farms”.
Mrs Victoria Yohana, also a farmer, appealed to the government to ensure that farmers at all levels got access to farm inputs.
The President of the Potatoes Farmers Association (POFAN), Mr Daniel Okafor, said his members were yet to get fertilizers from the government.
Source: NAN
Author Profile
- Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media, Information and Computer Technology Consultant. A quintessential Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist is based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
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Food and Agriculture
Kogi L-PRES Project Hosts Stakeholders’ Engagement To Tackle Farmer-Herder Conflict
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Kogi State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project, in collaboration with the Ministry of Livestock Development, has organized a statewide stakeholders’ engagement to address farmer-herder conflict in the state.
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The meeting, themed “Unlocking the Economic Potential of Peaceful Coexistence Between Farmers and Herders in Kogi State,” brought together key stakeholders to discuss ways to promote peaceful coexistence and sustainable development in the state.
Speaking at the meeting held at the Government House Lokoja, the Honorable Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr Olufemi Bolarin, emphasized the need for collective responsibility in addressing the conflict.
According to him, farmer-herder conflict has led to disruption of livelihoods, reduced productivity, and growing tensions within communities.
He outlined the state government’s commitment to strengthening mediation and dialogue platforms, promoting clear access and usage rules for shared resources, and improving early warning and reporting systems to prevent escalation.
Dr Bolarin called on traditional rulers, local governments, farmers, and pastoralist leaders to play their part in fostering dialogue, reconciliation, and responsible practices.
The State Project Coordinator (SPC) of Kogi L-PRES Project, Mr Abdulkabir Onoruoyiza Otaru, urged stakeholders to work together to address the issue of farmer-herder conflict in the state.
Mr Otaru emphasized that the conflict has been affecting livelihoods, reducing productivity, and straining community relationships, and urged stakeholders to take a proactive approach to addressing the challenge.
The SPC noted that the meeting was part of the project’s efforts to strengthen policies and support the state government in establishing Conflict Prevention & Resolution Committees (CP&RC) at the state and local government levels.
He also disclosed that the project has engaged a consultant for the Mapping and Documentation of Grazing Reserves and Stock Routes in the state, and is working with the Ministry of Livestock Development to develop critical livestock infrastructure across the livestock value chain clusters in the state
The SPC called on traditional rulers, local government chairmen, farmers, herders, youth, women, and security agencies to take responsibility for promoting peace and stability in the state.
He emphasized that lasting solutions to the conflict can only be achieved through collective efforts and collaboration.
Mr Otaru reaffirmed the project’s commitment to working with the state government and stakeholders to safeguard livelihoods, protect livestock investments, and promote peaceful coexistence.
However, the Obaro of Kabba, HRM, Oba Solomon Dele Owoniyi, highlighted the severity of the issue, describing it as more than just a conflict, but a security crisis that requires delibrate efforts and commitment of the critical Stakeholders.
The traditional ruler expressed concern over the rising cases of kidnapping and abduction in the state, particularly in Okun area.
The monarch appreciates the State Government Efforts towards addressing the menace and called for deployment of more security facilities and scientific approaches to tackle the challenge.
In their various paper presentations, the guest Speakers, highlighted various types of conflicts and their root causes particularly the farmer-herder crisis. They enumerated the negative economic impact and the various ways for the prevention, management and resolution.
They emphasized that lasting solutions to the farmer-herder conflict could only be achieved through adequate sentization, collective efforts and collaborations.
The Stakeholders’ at the event include traditional and religious leaders, security agencies, veterinarians, community and opinion leaders, farmers and herders’ associations, key value chain actors, local government chairmen and officials, women and youth groups, among others from the 64 Livestock Value Chain Clusters across the 21 LGAs in Kogi State
The stakeholders stressed the need for continuous sensitization and effective collaboration between farmers and herders to foster peaceful coexistence.
Ends.
Author Profile
- Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media, Information and Computer Technology Consultant. A quintessential Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist is based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
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Food and Agriculture
Kogi Vows To Invest More In Cashew Business For Job Creation, Others
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Following the current high rate of unemployment bedeviling Nigeria, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi state has given an assurance that his administration will invest more in Cashew Business as alternative source of survival for the people.
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Ododo maintained that apart from job creation, Cashew Value Chain has the potential of boosting the state’s socio-economic and industrial development.
Governor Ododo gave the assurance while flagging off the 2026 Cashew Season and Unveiling of Kogi Cashew Procurement and Trade Policy, 2025, as well as Distribution of five million Hybrid Cashew Seedlings to Farmers, held at the Government House, Lokoja on Friday.
The launch was organized by the Kogi State Commodity Exchange, Export Promotion and Market Development Agency (KOSCEPA) in collaboration with Agro Trading Consult Limited (ATCL) to commence the activities of this year’s Cashew farming in the state.
According to Governor Ododo “My administration is encouraging investment in Cashew Production in large scale commercial as it remains the most valuable cash crops and a major player in wealth creation, socio-economic and industrial development of a given society.
“Our focus as a government should shift from emphasis in politics to large scale investment in cash crops especially Cashew Production, Packaging, Processing, Branding and Structured Grades”
He noted that Cashew could be used as food, medicine, industrial purpose, agriculture, and cosmetic amongst others hence the need for heavy investment in the sector in view of its enormous value to human existence.
The Governor warned against stakeholders who embark on unregistered and illegal middle men in Cashew Business and other mining activities in the state to desist forth with or be ready to face prosecution.
“Stakeholders should endeavor to follow due process by getting themselves registered as any person found violating this government policy will be made to face the full wrath of the law”
The Director-general of Kogi State Commodity Exchange, Export Promotion and Market Development Agency, KOSCEPA, Victor Omofaiye in his welcome address, outlined the benefits of cashew to include; promotion of local cashew processing industries for job creation, enhancement of quality control and maintenance of Kogi’s reputation as a top cashew processing state, establishment of a structural and traceable cashew marketing system, increasing state revenue through organized trade and export levies and showcasing Kogi state cashew to the world.
Omofaiye also enumerated measures put in place to ensure Cashew Nuts quality control and regulation as follows:
*No foreigner is allowed to purchase we raw Cashew Nuts
*All buyers and exporters of Cashew nuts within Kogi state shall register with Agro trading Consult Limited in order to qualify for participation in the 2026 Cashew season
*The use of the Kogi state customized jute bag is sacrosanct, as without it no Cashew nut is permitted to leave the state
*All licensed buying agents must grant access for grading and inspection of all Cashew within the Agro Trading Consult Limited accredited warehouses for quality certification purposes
*Fumigation of all ATCL accredited warehouses for storing cashew is mandatory
*Payment of all regulatory levies is sacrosanct
*Shaking of cashew trees to reduce early harvest is strictly prohibited
Kogi State’s Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Muktar Shaibu, in his remarks, praised Governor Ododo policy on poverty reduction in the state through agriculture particularly in Cashew Production.
According to the commissioner “Kogi people will remain supportive of this laudable policy which has brought relief and smiles on their faces”
The Ata’Igala and President of Kogi State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty Matthew Opaluwa, who also spoke at the event, hailed Governor Ododo’s efforts to increase Farmers wealth through investment in agriculture.
His Royal Majesty who was represented by Onu Itobe, Chief Salifu Ocholi, declared the traditional Rulers solidarity and loyalty to Governor Ododo’s administration in view of his numerous achievements in uplifting the living standard of the people within the short period in office.
Author Profile
- Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media, Information and Computer Technology Consultant. A quintessential Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist is based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
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Food and Agriculture
AFAN President Charges Members On Improving Capacity Of Farmers
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The National President of All Farmers Association Of Nigeria (AFAN), Dr Farouq Rabiu Mudi, has charged the state chapter of AFAN to double their efforts to improve the capacity of all farmers in the state.
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Dr Rabiu made the call at the inauguration of the state chapter of AFAN led by a retired Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, Senate, Alhaji Ahmad Abdullahi.
He said farmers in Kogi State had all the potentials to produce for the country and for export stressing that the state has enough arable land and favorable climate.
The President commended that the new chairman for his proven track record which he has exhibited in the inauguration of the state executive in a record time adding that if it is only those with capacity that can do such.
He admonished him not to relax but do everything possible to ensure that the all the farmers in the state no matter where the residue are are carried along.
Author Profile
- Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media, Information and Computer Technology Consultant. A quintessential Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist is based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
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