Officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development have been warned against any act capable of harming the value chain initiative of the Federal Government.
Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Ezekiel Oyebola Oyemomi gave the warning while addressing staff and G. E. S. desk officers posted to South – South and South – East States in Abakaliki, Enugu, Calabar, Umuahia, Awka, Port Harcourt, Asaba, Yenagoa, Owerri.
Oyemomi, who represented the Minister of Ariculture and Rural Development, at the flag off ceremonies in the two regions performed by the respective state governors, told the staff to live up to the expectations of the Federal Government by ensuring the success of the value chain commodities and that basic farming inputs such as fertilizer and improved seedlings get to farmers on time.
He said that whereas the Federal Government has disengaged from distribution and procurement of inputs to agro-dealers, seed and fertilizer companies, they, as extension and agric. experts, should ensure that the right thing is done so that no registered farmer in the data base complains of lack of attention.
The Permanent Secretary pointed out that the essence for the ministry's decentralization across the 36 states, the FCT and the six geo-political zones was to cater for farmers so that the nation's policy on food security will be greatly realized at all levels.
He also charged them to update their skills, particularly on the current Agricultural Transformation Agenda and the Growth Enhancement Support scheme of the present administration, so as to impact on stakeholders such as commercial banks, agro-dealers, input companies and the young graduate farmers in the two regions.
Vanguard Nigeria