AGRICULTURE -FGN TO INTEGRATE SIMPLE TOOLS FOR SMALL HOLDERS FARMERS.
Raymond Enoch
The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) Dr Ernest A Umakhire has said that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development would promote affordable and simple tools under mechanization for small holder farmers in Nigeria.
Dr Ernest dropped this hint while addressing participants at a Stakeholders Workshop on FGN/IFAD Country Strategic Opportunities Programme ( COSOP) meeting held on the 11th of May 2023 at Wells Carlton Hotel Asokoro Abuja Nigeria. The Permanent Secretary said that 70% of Farmer’s in the Country are rural dwellers as such leveraging current actions on * Climate Change adaptation and opportunities for climate financing and reduction of Green Gas Emissions with other pertinent issues militating the development of Agricultural sector in the country is he determination of the ministry/*
According to Dr Ernest broadening* the Value Chain to include Fisheries for Nutrition enhancement and income generation, irrigation for livestock value chain and Sustainable pastoral production, integration of specific nutrition sensitive intervention into the COSOP* Would be a step in the right direction.
Dr Ernest express the desire of the ministry in building a robust Agribusiness economy that empowers smallholders’ farmers and commended the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria and IFAD in the formulation process
Welcoming the Participants and partners at the 2nd National Nigeria-IFAD COSOP 2024-2029, The IFAD Country Director Mrs Dede Ekoue said that the meeting is convened to build on the success of the previous stakeholders meeting that sought to set agenda for the next COSOP the Country.
Mrs Dede reiterated the commitment of IFAD as partner with Federal Government of Nigeria in the sector and called on the participants to contribute meaningfully to the discussions during the workshop to justify value for investment on the COSOP design and its implementation.
Participants at the workshop included Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development FMARD, National Value Chain Development Program (VCDP) program, State Value Chain Development Programmes (VCDPs,) Small Farmers Holders, Private Sector and Strategic partners including IFAD regional and Global offices.
In a related development on the 12th of May 2023, the FGN/IFAD had organized an ICT4D training and Clinics to equip its specialized project staff with skills for ICT4D knowledge in line with global best practices.
The training was Facilitated by Mrs Brenda Gunde, Global Senior Technical Specialist ICT4D in Agriculture, Sustainable Production, Market and institutions Division of IFAD is aimed at bringing global best practices to advance the capacity, performance and efficiency through digital technologies of the VCDPs team in Nigeria especially as the project approaches the next COSOP design for implementation. The training the team opportunity to achievements and proffer ways for improvement and consolidation
