Farmers in Ogun State who have not registered for the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) Scheme of the Federal Government have been asked to do so without further delay in order to partake from its immense benefits.
State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun made the call today while flagging off the 2014 edition of the scheme at the Eweje Farm Institute in Odeda Local Government Area of the State.
Sokefun said the scheme was capable of enhancing farmers’ productivity, income and quality of life as the farmers can have access to inputs such as seedlings and fertilizers at subsidized rates, stating that this was why State Government keyed into the Federal Government-driven scheme.
According to her, the 2014 edition in the State is being flagged off in the second quarter of the year to enable as many farmers as possible enjoy maximally from inherent benefits.
She urged registered farmers who have benefitted from the scheme in the past but had not done the needful to do so immediately saying under the 2014, maize and rice would be priority crops.
“This year’s commodity roll-out will be executed concurrently by starting with the generic, which involves maize or rice seed with fertilizer within a period of six-eight weeks while other commodity roll-out will last for two weeks each in a quick succession” she said.
Earlier, the State Director for the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Muyiwa Akinsola recalled the GES Scheme was introduced in 2011 to transform small scale farmers from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture.
Akinsola noted that there was provision for both small and large scale farmers to improve on their practices so as to increase agricultural produce in the country.
Delivering his goodwill message, President of the State Chapter of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Chief Segun Dasaolu appreciated both the Federal and State Governments for subsidizing cost of seedlings and fertilizer.
He advised his colleague farmers to make good judicious use of the opportunity provided by the scheme, appealing to the State Government to rehabilitate the Eweje Farm Institute.
Ogun State Government Press Release
