Jigawa State: FG Flags Off Seeds Support Programme For Farmers

By Mohammed Abubakar Dutse

As part of its efforts to assist farmers across the country to recover from the dry-spell loses and guarantee adequate availability of food to majority of Nigerians, the federal government on Thursday launched a nation-wide seed support programme.

The programme, which is being implemented by the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) in collaboration with the Jigawa state government, is providing certified cowpea, sesame and groundnut seeds to about 5,000 farmers in the state to enable them to recover production within the remaining planting window.

The flag-off brought ceremony at the Dutse Mini-Stadium brought together officials from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, NASC, the Jigawa State Government, farmer organisations and other stakeholders in an effort to ensure that the certified seeds reach farmers quickly enough to make productive use of the remaining planting season.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, said the federal government intervention was designed to help farmers recover part of the planting season lost to dry spells.

He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved the intervention and directed that it reach affected farmers within the planting window. Altogether about 5000 farmers are expected to benefit from the programme under the Renewed Hope Seed Support Programme.

“Mr President, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, approved this intervention and directed that it reach affected farmers inside the planting window. That instruction is the whole difference,” Kyari said.

The minister said each beneficiary state would receive 32 metric tonnes of certified cowpea seed, 9 metric tonnes of certified groundnut seed and 8.35 metric tonnes of certified sesame seed, with the Jigawa intervention expected to reach approximately 4,935 small holder farming households.

He explained that cowpea, groundnut and sesame were selected because they are short-duration crops whose improved varieties can mature within the remaining period of the rainy season.

Kyari commended the Jigawa state government for its sustained investment in irrigation, mechanisation, extension services, improved inputs and partnerships in agriculture.

“Jigawa does not treat agriculture as a department of government. This state treats it as the economy, because it is the economy,” he said.

Namadi, who was represented by his deputy, Aminu Usman Gumel lauded the federal government’s intervention to support farmers affected by dry spells and irregular rainfall, noted that the distribution of certified improved seeds will help farmers recover lost production and strengthen the state’s food and nutrition security.

He expressed appreciation to the federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the intervention, describing it as timely support for farmers who had suffered losses as a result of dry spells and irregular rainfall.

“Coming at a time when many of our farmers have suffered losses as a result of dry spells and irregular rainfall, this support will help affected farmers recover, replant, and strengthen their resilience while advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda on food security, agricultural productivity, and support for small holder farmers,” the governor said.

He also commended NASC for fulfilling its mandate in the development, regulation, quality assurance and certification of Nigeria’s seed industry, saying its role provides confidence that the seeds being distributed meet the required standards for farmers.

Governor Namadi said the intervention was particularly important to Jigawa because agriculture remains the backbone of the state’s economy and the main source of livelihood for the vast majority of its people.

“When rainfall fails, the impact extends beyond farms to household income, food availability, rural employment, market activity, and the well-being of families across our communities,” he said.

He expressed sympathy to farmers who suffered losses during the challenging season and assured them that the state government recognised their difficulties.

Under the intervention, 32 tonnes of cowpea seed will be distributed in 3,200 bags of 10 kilogrammes each to 3,200 farmers, while 8.35 tonnes of sesame seed will be supplied in 935 bags of 10 kilogrammes each to 835 farmers. Groundnut seed packaged in 10-kilogramme bags will also be provided to 900 farmers.

The governor urged beneficiaries to make effective and responsible use of the seeds and follow the guidance of agricultural extension agents on land preparation, planting methods, spacing, timing, pest management and post-planting care.

“The Jigawa State Government will continue to strengthen extension services so that farmers are not only given inputs but are also properly guided to achieve the best possible yield results from those inputs,” he said.

Governor Namadi said the intervention fits into his administration’s 12-Point Agenda and broader agricultural transformation priorities, which seek to build a more productive, resilient and commercial agricultural economy that guarantees food and nutrition security, creates jobs, supports farmers, expands irrigation and mechanisation, promotes value addition and attracts private investment.

He also disclosed that the state had recently placed an order for organic fertiliser as an alternative to chemical fertilisers, which he noted also acts as pesticides.

He assured the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and NASC of the state government’s cooperation in ensuring that the intervention reached genuine farmers and produced the intended impact.

“We will achieve this objective by working closely with all stakeholders, including the Local Government Authorities, extension officers, and farmer groups,” he said.

The Director-General of the National Agricultural Seeds Council, Fatuhu Mohammed, said the council remained committed to ensuring that farmers received quality planting materials through seed certification, quality assurance, variety registration, laboratory testing and regulatory enforcement.

He also commended Governor Namadi for his administration’s investment in irrigation, mechanisation, improved agricultural inputs, extension services and policies aimed at encouraging private-sector participation in agriculture.