A total sum of N14 billion has been approved by President
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in support of dry season farming for the year, 2014, is
expected to boost agriculture produce in Nigeria, reports NaijaAgroNet on Monday.
NaijaAgroNet
recalls that in 2013, an estimated sum of N9m was approved for the dry season
farming and in continuation, this has been jacked up to N14bn, even as it’s
anticipated that more farmers would embrace the model.
In his address at the formal launch of the Dry Season Farm
Support Programme (DSFSP), President Jonathan noted that his administration would
ensure that the programme in Nigeria is sustained so as become a national food
policy.
"Our resolve to expand this dry season programme is
strong and subsequently it has to come up in October so that the farmers will
get what they need before the commencement of the dry season,” he declared,
stressing that in order to demonstrate this, “I am today announcing N14 billion
to support dry seasoning farming for 2014 season. Last year it was N9 billion,
this year is 14 billion and as more states come on board we will continue to
increase the amount of money.”
President Jonathan reiterated the commitment of his
administration on agriculture, saying "We I'll continue to work with
farmers and that is why I am announcing today that the support will become a
national policy. Our nation shall be green, our barns shall be filled and our
farmers shall prosper," he prayed.
Pointing out that the launch in January is late, hence he
advised the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) to
ensure the rescheduling of this launch to last quarter of the year such as in
the month of October or November.
He recalls that the programme was launched in 2011 with the
goal of creating additional 20 million metric tonnes of food into the country's
domestic food supply to change the approach to agriculture.
As a nation, he said, Nigeria, must be able to feed the
citizenry, noting that “A giant that cannot feed herself of course the weight
of the giant will crush the weak legs if there is no food."
He emphasised that Nigeria did not suffer from food crisis
in the last few years, because contrary to critics, he Growth Enhancement
Programme (GES) had already reached about 1 million genuine farmers, who already
harvested their crops before the 2012 floods.
Isaac Oyimah/GEE
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