Jonathan Ended 40 Years Of Corruption In Agric Sector

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina says corruption in the Agriculture sector which has lasted about 40 years has ended through President Goodluck Jonathan’s Agriculture Transformation Agenda.

“We ended 40 years of corruption in the fertiliser sector. The old system of government direct procurement and distribution of fertiliser was corrupt,” said Adesina on Monday, at the Public Affairs Forum organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe.

Adesina said over N873 billion was spent on fertiliser subsidies between 1980 and 2010 but about 90 percent of the farmers never received subsidised fertilizers. He added that an estimated N776 billion have been lost to corruption.

Today, corruption has ended in the sector, with the ministry having built up a national database of 10.5 million farmers, which had increased agriculture participation in every state of the federation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) of the Federal Government have increased farmers’ access to fertiliser from 11 percent to 92. Out of this figure, 1.3 million tons of fertiliser had been delivered to farmers, while 55,000 tons of improved seeds had been delivered to farmers.

Adesina also said that the ministry has enjoyed support from the Bank of Industry and Bank of Agriculture, which had enabled it to ensure self-sufficiency in rice production, with millions of tonnes of the commodity now being produced.

The minister said the sector has also received a boost as a result of active youth participation in the entire value chain circle.

The four-day forum organised by Okupe’s office, with the theme: “The Jonathan’s administration: Four Impactful Years,” was organised to highlight the achievements of President Jonathan-led administration.