(News investigators) FG has announced plans to reach over 60,000 farmers with highly subsidized inputs. It will be executed under Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Program. There was a flag off in Kano recently. FG will contribute 80% farmers will pay 20% from the redemption of his or her inputs. Target is smallholder farmer. I will encourage farmers to physically visit @FmardNg
to engage them. They have programs but they do not communicate.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has announced plans to reach over 60,000 farmers with highly subsidised inputs to boost food production in the country as part of the implementation of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Program Phase One (ATASP-1) for the actualisation of the present administration’s resolve to attain food and nutrition security.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, who was represented by the Director, Projects Coordination Unit Department (PCU), Mr. Bukar Musa, explained that ATASP-1 would also help to attract private sector investment, reduce post-harvest losses, as well as add value to local agriculture produce. He said the ministry via the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agropocket (NAGS-AP) has commenced the distribution of subsidized farm inputs to smallholder farmers across the North Western States.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony of NAGS-AP in Kano State, Umakhihe said that the event was very important for the ministry as it would help to boost agricultural production and guarantee access to quality agricultural inputs such as fertilizer, seeds, pesticides whose distribution.
He noted that the federal government is committed to paying 80 per cent of the total cost of the input package while each participating farmer is expected to pay the 20 per cent balance for the redemption of his/her inputs at the redemption centre.
Umakhihe added that “in order to increase the level of transparency, accountability and efficiency in the input delivery process, the federal government this year approved the introduction and use of ICT platform for delivery of the inputs to farmers, making this year’s program a very notable one.”
He revealed that farmers had been interfaced with and helpline staff who will man the platform had also been sufficiently trained and supervisors of the inputs delivery activities at the redemption centers had also been appointed and engaged.
