In the first part of this report, penultimate Wednesday, we highlighted why and how more and more states are seeking and adopting various measures to boost their internally generated revenues and effectively address their worsening insolvency or cash crunch challenges.

In the face of declining Federal Allocations arising from crude oil price crash, states are increasingly embracing the imperative of seeking redemption through agricultural development. The report featured what states like Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue and Borno are doing or not doing presently to develop their agricultural potentials. The report continues:

Bayelsa:   Cassava revolution
With a budgetary allocation of N1.36 billion out of its N150.645 billion to agriculture, Bayelsa is among states with least budgetary approval for the sector even in the face of the prevailing insolvency.

Indeed, food and tree crops like cassava, plantain, sugar cane, coconut, oil palm, raffia palm, African mango, rubber and seasonal food crops like maize and fruits as well as timber, could be produced in commercial quantity but that had not been the case before now.

Faced with a sharp drop in allocation from the Federation Account, Bayelsa,VF, learnt has embarked on robust measures at realising its agricultural potentialities, even though it had lost hitherto arable land to environmental pollution.

Investigations showed that it has commenced cassava cultivation of 10,000 plants per hectare with an average yield of 15 -25 tonnes per year, developed 4,000 hectares of rice farm at Peremabiri, 5,000 hectares at Isampou and 2,000 hectares at Kolo and commenced   the construction of an international passenger and cargo Airport.

Other efforts meant to boost agriculture in the state that experiences the highest rainfall in Nigeria, with an annual average of approximately 140 centimetres per year, includes investment in aquaculture projects. Specifically, Bayelsa is into an agreement with two Israeli companies for the production of 3,000 tons of fish annually.

VF further learnt that the Agge Deep Sea Port in Bayelsa State, when completed would boost agriculture due to its littoral and maritime advantage.

Delta: Creating wealth through agriculture
For a state which before now had come up with ‘’Delta Beyond Oil’’ as a policy framework aimed at shifting attention from oil revenue, the story of agriculture under the present administration in Delta is not surprising. The administration of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, having realised that the state can be more prosperous if agricultural potentialities are harnessed, inaugurated the Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme, STEP and Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme ,YAGEP.

The Job and Wealth Creation Scheme tagged OkowaPlus was introduced last year to tackle the problem of youth unemployment and create wealth through agriculture.

Over 70,000 persons had applied to be enlisted in the scheme which also included Production Processing and Support Programme ,PPSP, Development of Agro-Industries and Extension of Microcredit.

To ensure that the agricultural intervention scheme works unlike in the past, a verification exercise conducted showed that that over 70 percent of the applicants who applied were fake farmers.

To further revive the sector for self-reliance a   16-man Agricultural Marketing Coordination Committee, AMCC, to reform the agricultural sector in line with the objectives of economic diversification, food security, self-reliance and prosperity for all was set up.

The agency, VF gathered, is presently tackling the marketing challenges faced by farmers in Delta as well as helping them   worry less about finding suitable markets for their produce while ensuring that   farming is attractive once again.

Further findings revealed that plans have been concluded to provide financial assistance to all categories of farmers while the Ministry of Agriculture would convene workshops for tomatoes and rice production in commercial quantities.

The ministry, it was also learnt, had commenced training extension officers and farmers to build their capacity to increase productivity.

Shedding light on VF’s findings recently the state governor, said: “We have set a target of 10% annual growth rate in our agricultural sector, especially in commodities where we have a comparative advantage, particularly cassava, oil palm and aquaculture. Through our Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme,YAGEP and

Production and Processing Support Programme, PPSP, we are building capacity for our farmers and agro-processors by resourcing them with improved technologies, efficient inputs, and marketing support to trigger high yields.”

Ebonyi: One man one hectare
Among the five states in the South East geopolitical zone, Ebonyi   is more agrarian-driven given that over 85 percent of its population engage in farming activities.

The state was famed for the commercial production of Abakaliki rice which was sold across the Southern part of the country, but the cultivation of rice was almost abandoned following the   importation of foreign rice.

Notably, the following food crops used to be cultivated in commercial quantities:   yam, cassava, maize, cocoyam, cowpea, and groundnut.   The cash crops include oil palm, cashew, cocoa and rubber.

VF gathered that farmers in the state are challenged by inadequate modern farming equipment and inadequate support from the government in the procurement of fertilizer.  Presently the state government has launched the “One Man, One Hectare” agricultural programme aimed at making the state one of the highest food producers in the country.

To aid rice production , there is a   programme entitled Schools Agricultural Programme which   is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture.

The distribution of N250,000 each to 3000 unemployed Ebonyi youths for human capital development in the area of agriculture and Empowerment was flagged off.

Similarly, over 50,000 hectares of land had been identified and set aside across the 13 local government areas of the state for rice farming and production.

In addition, VF learnt that over 292 hectares of land have been donated to Ebonyi State University, EBSU, Abakaliki to be used as demonstration farms.   The land would be used to grow all kinds of crops, including maize, rice, tomatoes, yams, among others.

Plans, VF was told, are ongoing for a policy that will allow civil servants to work half day on Fridays so as to allow them to attend to their farms. To this end, members of the State Executive Council were reported to have started farming, with each agreeing to use at least two hectares.

The services of some expatriates had been engaged for the training of farmers on the use of   mechanized agricultural equipment procured by the government. In order to excel in palm produce, the state is intends to plant the produce   along state and federal roads.

While the government in its N101 billon 2016 budget plans to generate N20 billion annually from agriculture, VF did not find any figure for the sector.

However, agriculture was listed in the economic sector which got N36.890 billion representing 59 percent of the budget.

Therefore, for Ebonyi, VF could say that ongoing efforts are not commensurable with the agricultural potentialities of the state.

Enugu: Private-sector driven efforts
Of the five South Eastern states, Enugu and Anambra have the combined budget of N2.32 billion for the agricultural sector. Specifically, the state budgeted N1.3 billion in 2016 out of its estimate of N8.51billion.

The state which was famed for the commercial production of Adana Rice, cashew and pineapple production   presently has its agro-industries in a state of abandonment as a result of the failure of past administrations.  The companies in this regard are Adarice Company and the Premier Cashew Industry in Oghe, among others.

However, findings showed that the present administration has an agricultural policy which is now private sector propelled. It is aimed at food security empowerment and job creation.

In that direction, the government has a partnership with a Brazilian company, the Sancalos Pineapple Farms. To fast- track the venture, a pineapple farm has been developed in Awgu and it is being managed by Sancalos. Also, a 250-hectares of banana plantation was established in Ibitolu, Ezeagu Council.

To boost the state’s agricultural needs in grains, vegetables and tubers, two farm settlements were established in Adani and Heneke in Uzo Uwani and Ezeagu local government areas.

VF further gathered that the Enugu-Shongai Initiative had been restructured resulting in the procurement of new multi-purpose tractors with the assistance of the Songhai Agricultural Institute, Benin Republic. The development, it was gathered would be sustained until the state’s needs in mechanised farming are met.

Summarily, Enugu currently offers the opportunity to explore options for developing the   sector through Public Public Partnership as well as privatisation of government’s agricultural ventures. The major crops which the government recently called the attention of investors to at a recent investment summit include palm oil, rice, cassava, cashew, vegetable fruits and livestock production.

Accordingly, 750 hectares of arable land across the state for commercial agriculture has been given out for farming. The benefiting communities include Ogbeke, Oduma, Ogulogu ,Akpugo-Eze,   Nnewe,   Ikem , Agkuibeje, Oghu, Eha Amufu , Obimo, and Amangunze.
EDO: Creating investment investment friendly environment
Comparatively, Edo was strong in the commercial cultivation of rubber, oil palm, maize, plantain , cashew, yam, cocoa, pineapple, and cassava. With several state-owned agro-enterprises   comatose as a result of past maladministration in the state, the present administration claims to have made efforts at making Edo investment friendly.

However, critics are often quick to score the administration low in agriculture given the state of most state-owned ventures which it inherited. The enterprises in this regard include the Cassava mill in Uromi, Esan North East Council, Ehor fruit industry and Fertiliser Company in Auchi, Etsako West local government areas, among others.

Notwithstanding, findings   showed that the administration had provided land for commercial farming , one of the most prominent being the recent creation of Integrated Produce City ,IPC, in Ugbokun by investors led by Prof Pat Utomi. The IPC is projected to boost agriculture in the state and drastically reduce unemployment in the state.

The government also engaged some Vietnamese to help return the state to its glorious years of self-sustenance in rice production.

It was further learnt that hectares   of land had been provided to the privately-owned   Okomu Oil for cultivation, in addition to the   planned allocation of 30,000 hectares of land to Small Growers. Accordingly, each grower is expected to own a minimum of 25 hectares of oil palm plantation.

The state has also presented Certificates of Occupancy to major investors in the sector in order to encourage fresh investments.

The benefiting investors, who received their certificates of occupancy are Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Obax Worldwide, Presco, Root Bio-Chemical, Integrated Produce Cereal, among others

It also had signed up a total of about a 150,000 hectares of land to about six investors who cultivate crops like oil palm, rubber and cassava, among others.

With over 1.6 million hectares of arable land with sustained and aggressive investment, Edo would have a booming agro-based economy. Already, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Godwin Obaseki,   told VF during a recent encounter in Benin, that he would ensure that Nigerian and foreign investors would be brought in to invest in the agricultural potentialities that abound in the state.

It was also gathered that since agriculture is the mainstay of the local economy of the state,   sustained support to farmers across the senatorial zones through capital and skills, would take the sector beyond its present subsistence level.

 
Ekiti: State of emergency on agriculture
In what could pass as a commitment to diversification of agriculture, Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, recently declared an emergency in the agriculture sector.

Consequently, a summit entitled ‘’The Rebirth of Sustainable Agriculture: Exploring New Investment Frontiers In Wealth Creation’’ was held in the state.

VF observed that it was done to ensure the right attitude and commitment to diversification unlike in the past.  It was also learnt that the governor had undertaken a trip to Guangzhou , China as part of his efforts to boost agriculture and improve technological expertise. Bilateral talks on agriculture were said to have taken place at the 119th China Import and Export Fair otherwise known as the Canton Fair which held in April this year.

A Joint Technical Committee on Collaboration between the Ekiti State government and the Bank of Agriculture had also been inaugurated. The collaboration, VF learnt, would assist farmers to establish every aspect of farming.

It also plans to distribute 263,442 cocoa seedlings and raise another 228,000 seedlings in order to rekindle the forest reserves and boost the revenue generation capacity.

Gombe: More fertilizer for farmers
The state is among the states in the North Central geopolitical zone that had in 2014, pledged to increase the budgetary allocation to agriculture from an annual average of four to 10 percent.

But findings showed that its 2016 budget on the sector did not reflect such pledge. It was grouped under the economic sector which was split into Forestry, Fisheries,

Science and Minerals Development, Rural Development, Trade and Industry, Works and Infrastructure, Water, Housing and Transport, Town and County Planning and was allocated   N 760, 000, 000.00.

The government, VF gathered also plans to distribute 110, 000 tons of fertilizer to farmers at subsidized rates. The focus on agriculture also captures the procurement and   distribution of 2, 280 work bulls and ox-drawn ploughs, provision of improved seedlings and purchase of farming implements and procurement and distribution of 8, 000 water pumps to dry season farmers.

To expand access to credit , the government said it had disbursed N600 million under what Gombe State Revolving Agricultural Fund. In all, the sum of N10 billion, VF learnt, had been expended on the sector. A breakdown seen by VF showed that the government had procured and distributed 225 tractors, ridgers, harrowers, ploughs, 8,000 water pumps, 2280 work bulls and ox drawn ploughs.

The state has an advantage in the following food and cash crops: Cereals:Maize, soghum, rice and wheat; Legumes: Cowpeas, groundnuts,soya beans and bambara nuts. Others are orange, lemon, mango, guava, paw-paw and grapes, tomatoes, pepper, onions, okra, pumpkin and melon.

Imo: Back to land for agriculture
Imo State grabbed the headlines recently over government directive to civil servants in the state to work for three days in a week, while Thursdays and Fridays would be spent on the farm.

The government said the move which is in line with its “Back to Land for Agriculture” programme, became necessary following the need to boost agriculture and create food security.

This, it said, was part   of its commitment to making real its diversification drive.  The programme, VF observed, also mandated everyone to engage in farming with primary and tertiary institutions inclusive.   A financial backing of N2 billion was said to have been set aside at a micro-finance bank so that those participating in the program could access it.

At the time the government made this known, it noted that the programme was scheduled to commence on August 1, 2016.

In respective of what the promoters hope to achieve with the programme, VF observed that many consider it a bizarre idea and another lip service.

Jigawa: Cluster farming is it
Even before the economic recession, Jigawa State had been outstanding in agricultural activities with the production of food and cash crops modestly beyond subsistence level.

However, to boost food production and diversify its economic base, the present administration in the state has adopted cluster farming techniques.

It is directly aimed at achieving food security and achieving commercial success in agriculture.

Having identified its strength in the cultivation of rice, groundnut, soya beans and sesame, the government had commenced the method of cluster farming in maximizing the identified areas.

VF learnt that this novel approach was structured in a manner that allowed each of the 287 wards in the 27 local government areas to have clusters that were created as demonstration farms.

In each of the LGAs, 50 hectares of farmlands were provided as clusters with 20 to 30 farmers organized into a cluster depending on the size of their farms.

To be concluded