(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Akinwumi-Adesina1-300x231.jpg) As part of its concerted efforts to ensure that Nigerian farmers have undisrupted access to farm inputs, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has flagged-off the 2013 Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) in the South West with advice to farmers to properly utilize the seeds.
The Minister who spoke through the Ministry's South West Regional Director, Mr. Olalekan Quadri in Otiri Farm Settlement in Iseyin, Oyo State, said the launch of the 2013 GES is another "Milestone in the quest for State and Federal Government to reposition agriculture in the country and make Nigeria a major player in the food market".
He said GES is a strategy by the Federal and State Governments under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) to provide subsidized inputs to farmers and ensure that the financial burden are shared among the two levels of Government and farmers.
The Scheme according to the Minister has put paid to the unwholesome activities of middle men who, over the years, had been diverting the products to neighbouring Countries for their selfish end leaving only 11% of the products for use by the Nigerian farmers.
The current effort of both the Federal and State Governments, Quadri further explained, is to make agriculture profitable through value chain approach and timely delivery of agricultural inputs directly targeted at farmers would go a long way in attracting the youth to agriculture and reduce unemployment rate.
He disclosed that the Federal Government has so far registered 4.5 million farmers in 2012 and look forward to registering 5 million farmers in 2013.
The Minister pointed out that the One-Stop-Shop (the venue of the flag-off) was put in place to ensure that the farmers access to inputs they require are within their reach in terms of availability and cost.
The GES, in his explanation, is to ensure adequate and regular supply of Agricultural Inputs, such as fertilizers and seeds to farmers through Fertilizer and Seed Companies at subsidized rates. He thereafter appealed to farmers to ensure that the inputs given to them are used in their farms and not sold or eaten as they contain chemicals meant for growth multiplication when planted.
The Commissioner for Agriculture in Oyo State, Mr. Peter Odetomi speaking earlier, said there is need for government to look into the issue of agricultural extension which he said, needed to be transformed as he affirmed that extension service delivery is the vehicle that drives the other focal crops or commodities.
Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria