…Distributes free inputs to smallholder farmers, integrates physically challenged
By Esho Ayemoba in Benin City
The Federal Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has supported Edo State and other States in the South-south geo-political zone with over 1.8 million free vaccines, in furtherance of its commitment to curtail the spread of Trans-boundary Animal Diseases (TADs) in Nigeria.
The Minister Dr. Mohammad Abubakar made the disclosure at the flag off ceremony of 2022 nationwide free mass vaccination campaign against transboundary animal diseases recently in Benin City, Edo State.
Abubakar, said the TADs such as Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Peste Des Petits Ruminants (PPR) and Newcastle Disease (ND) are affecting the livestock population.
To achieve the much-desired herd immunity for prevention, control and possibly eradication, they ought to be adequately vaccinated.
The Minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, said livestock employs about 70% of our population, food nutrition and security and livelihood.
The Minister revealed that the Ministry has policies and National programme for the control of these diseases, while it is the policy for routine vaccination for all diseases, it is our policy as a country not to vaccinate against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as Bird flu.
He urged development partners and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to key into the initiative by supporting the States with more vaccines and the logistics needed to carry out the mass vaccination in the country.
Abubakar stressed that the exercise should be taking as a call to national service and to give it the best attention that it deserves, as Nigeria joins other nations of the world to control and eradicate these dreaded diseases of cattle, poultry, sheep and goat from our national herd.
In his welcome address, the Acting Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Edo State, Mr. Stephen Idenhere, commended the effort of the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in controlling animal diseases across the nation.
In his words, “I called on all States within the South-south region, to join hands in the battle as animal disease control is a collective responsibility.”
“This synergy would go a long way in enhancing livestock production in the zone thereby improving the socio- economic status of the rural dwellers” Shaibu added.
He revealed that Edo State Government had keyed into the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (LPRES) project of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, ECOWAS- PACBAO which were aimed at improving livestock production and curbing farmers/herders clashes.
Speaking further, he stated that Edo State was at the verge of resuscitating Igarra- Ewan Cattle Ranch as well as establishing livestock production centres to promote responsible ruminant production in the State.
He, therefore, thanked the Ministry for choosing Edo State as a flag -off State for the South-south region.
In her remarks, the Director, Federal Department of Veterinary and Pest Control and Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr. Maimuna Habib said that the Ministry would continue to support and collaborate with States to ensure the good health of livestock in Nigeria through the provision of vaccines, trainings, disinfectants and veterinary drugs as much as possible.
She stated that the Ministry intended to do the same in other remaining 3 geopolitical zones (South – East, South-West & North-Central) of the country, having carried out similar exercise in Jigawa and Gombe states respectively.
Dr. Habib emphasized that the vaccines were procured through the intervention fund of the Federal Government for the control of Transboundary Animal Diseases, she urged the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVSs) in the region to submit their vaccine needs and indicate their readiness to commence field vaccination exercise. This she pointed out would enable the Department communicate to National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, for prompt release of vaccines allocated to the States and ensure the participation of federal staff at the vaccination exercise.
Distributes Free Inputs to Smallholders Farmers in Edo,
Integrates the Physically Challenged
In another breath, Umakhihe, has flagged-off yet another distribution of free Agricultural inputs and quality seeds as intervention for smallholders Farmers in Edo State, stating that it would enhance food and nutrition security, economic growth and job creation, especially during the Post COVID-19 era.
The event which took place also on Thursday at the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Office in Benin City, Edo State featured distribution of equipment such as Food Dehydrator, Motorized Oil Palm Harvester, Cashew Cracker, 3 HP water pump, Knapsack Sprayers, Agro chemicals, growth enhancers, Power Tillers, cassava stems, planters and cassava processing equipment among others.
Umakhihe, stated that ‘’the smallholders are the most vulnerable in times of crisis, it become imperative for the Federal Government to support them with the much-needed inputs especially seeds, which is the most important factor that influences farmers’ yield in order to enable them to recover quickly from the set back of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the effect of the insecurity’’.
He revealed that 35% of the inputs were targeted at women farmers and processors in line with the targets set in the National Gender Plan and Policies aimed at ensuring increased opportunities for women. “Similarly, 10% is targeted at persons with special needs and this has been communicated to the Farmers’ Associations to act accordingly.’’
The Permanent Secretary emphasised the commitment of the Ministry to address national and Food security by mapping out strategic policies such as the Agriculture for Food and Jobs Plan (AFJP), the Green Imperative, Agricultural Promotion Policy, NATIP as well as the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) among others.
He stated that the Ministry in its effort to support smallholder farmers has distributed different equipment, improved seeds and seedlings of various crops to farmers in Osun, Plateau, Kaduna and Taraba States. The next major input and equipment distribution will be in Katsina state.
The Permanent Secretary tasked the beneficiaries to make judicious use of these inputs to produce food for the nation while calling on other stakeholders to provide similar support to farmers ‘’so that together, we can become self- sufficient in food production’’.
In his welcome address, Idehenre, stated that these initiatives were designed to provide critical support to smallholder farmers in the state, leverage land assets towards driving development and diversify the economy with a focus on sustaining food security.
Idehenre pointed out that through independent farmers initiative, 2,050 smallholder farmers were provided with Agricultural Inputs to drive cassava, maize, rice and soybeans value chains,adding that under oil palm programme, 63,000 hectare of brown fields have been made available for investors for the development of oil palm plantation aimed at making Edo State, a leader in oil palm production in Africa.
The Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Edo Chapter, Alhaji Bako Dogo commended the Federal Government for its progressive and pragmatic policies in the Agriculture sector which geared towards diversification of the economy , increase in production and income for farmers in the country.
One of the beneficiaries, a physically challenged farmer, Mr Efosa Baldwin thanked the Ministry for the free Agricultural Inputs and pledged to make judicious use of the Inputs.
The Agricultural Inputs/ equipment distributed included; Food Dehydrator 20, Motorised oil palm 50, Cashew cracker 5, 3 HP Water Pump 100, Knapsack Sprayer 625, Cypermtetnine 1,000 litres, Agrixyme 400 litres, Glyphosate 1,239 litres, Pathway (liquid) 960 litres, power tiller 5 and honey bee clothing 200.
Quality seeds are as follows: oil palm seedlings 3,000, cocoa seedlings 20,000, coconut seedlings 5,000, yam seeds 200,among others.
Signed: Ezeaja Ikemefuna/Eremah Anthonia, for: Director, for: Director Information (FMARD).
