FG plans 3.2m jobs through agric programme

The national agricultural transformation programme of the Federal Government is expected to generate employment opportunity for 3.2 million people and ensure an increase in the income of farmers across the country.The programme, at implementation level is expected to raise the productivity of farmers through an annual increase in the production of cassava by 17million, rice by 2.5 million and sorghum by 500,000 tonnes.The team leader of the Cassava Transformation Implementation Group in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Martin Fregene, made this disclosure at the Ogun State Stakeholders' Conference on Cassava Transformation Value Chain, held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.Dr Fregene disclosed that the team was in the state to identify cassava processors and rub minds with other stakeholders on how to drive the cassava sub-sector to ensure higher productivity and profitability for all.He added that his ministry was committed to helping farmers surmount challenges of accessing affordable farming inputs through the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) unit of the programme.'Farmers will no longer have to struggle against systems that prevent them from getting inputs with the GES programme. Every year, one million farmers across the country will receive an e-voucher through their phones which will give them access to four bags of fertilizers at 40 per cent discount in designated areas,' he remarked.Dr Fregene further disclosed that the ministry would work on provision ready markets for products of farmers by supporting cassava processing companies and establishing Staple Crop Processing Centres across the country.He added that incentivises such as tax exemptions for five years, as well as provision of infrastructure such as good roads, electricity and water would also be provided in the centres to ensure private sector investment in cassava processing.In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Ayo Olubori, reiterated government's commitment to the development of the agricultural sub-sector in the State.He assured the team of government's readiness to partner with the Federal Government to ensure the success of its Agricultural Transformation Agenda, expressing hope that in no distant time, all exportable agricultural produce would be processed from the State.
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