The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, through the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agropocket (NAGS-AP), has taken a significant step towards boosting Food and Nutrition Security, attracting private sector investments, reducing post-harvest losses, and adding value to local agricultural produce. This initiative involves the distribution of subsidized farm inputs to smallholder farmers across the North Western States.
The commencement of NAGS-AP was marked by a flag-off ceremony in Bunkure Local Government Area, Kano State, recently, which was graced by the Executive Governor of Kano State, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf. He highlighted that NAGS-AP is being implemented through the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Program Phase One (ATASP-1), funded by the African Development Bank, as a pilot phase to pave the way for the successful implementation of the forthcoming Policy-Based Operation (PBO).
The PBO is a Sector Budget Support operation prepared under the African Emergency Food Production Facility and is set to be implemented across the 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory for a period of two years starting from 2023.
NAGS-AP shares common objectives with ATASP-1, such as achieving food and nutrition security, generating employment, creating wealth for beneficiaries in the rice, sorghum, and cassava value chains sustainably, and attracting private sector investments in agriculture.
The program targets communities in Bunkere Rano, Bagwai, Dawakin Kudu, Bebeji, and Garun Malam Local Government Areas of Kano State, supporting 60,000 farmers with highly subsidized inputs to enhance their production levels and contribute to the nation’s agricultural output.
To ensure transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the input delivery process, the government has approved the use of an ICT platform called the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NAGS & AP). This platform will be utilized for delivering inputs to farmers during this exercise and in future programs.
Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, emphasized the importance of full utilization of the inputs by farmers to increase farm output and income while discouraging any malpractice in input distribution.
The National Programme Coordinator, ATAPS 1, Dr. Ibrahim.M. Arabi, highlighted that the challenges of Covid-19, insecurity, and food insecurity led to the restructuring of ATASP-1 to provide initial funding for the implementation of NAGS-AP, aiming to improve production and productivity of staple food crops to mitigate the nation’s food insecurity.
NAGS-AP will be implemented in five states, namely Niger, Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, and Kebbi, focusing on promoting Rice, Sorghum, and Maize cultivation.
The ceremony saw the symbolic flag-off of the distribution of farm inputs to smallholder farmers by the Executive Governor of Kano State, with the presence of the Kano State Commissioner of Agriculture, Traditional Rulers, and relevant stakeholders such as All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Fertilizer Producers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN), and Nigerian Agro Input Dealers Association (NAIDA).
