FCTA registers 114,337 farmers in 2 years

The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA has registered 114,337 farmers under the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme between 2012 and 2013.

Olvadi Madayi, secretary, agriculture and rural development secretariat of the FCTA, explained that 50,380 farmers were registered in 2012, while 63, 957 were registered in 2013 under the scheme. Madayi also said that the FCTA distributed 183,768 bags of fertilisers and 1,035.9 tons of improved seeds of maize and rice to farmers.

The secretary, while briefing newsmen on the achievements and impacts of the agricultural and rural development secretariat in Abuja, said “FCT Administration, through the agriculture secretariat has put in motion two ongoing programmes to promote agricultural mechanisation in the FCT. They are the private sector-led cooperative tractor hiring service scheme and farmer technology empowerment programme.’’

She further said the administration purchased 20 tractors at 50 percent subsidy for farmers in 2013 in addition to the 80 purchased in 2012. According to Madayi, the ongoing FCT integrated farm centre which commenced operations in 2009 would enhance the capacity building of 2,000 farmers annually when completed.

On the buffer stock programme, she said that FCTA had been given the mandate to store up to 10 percent of food grains produced for the purpose of disaster and periods of glut. “For FCT to achieve this goal, we are trying to encourage farmers to continue production by ensuring remunerative producer prices. We are also constructing two specialised warehouses at Tungan Maje and Gwagwa for proper storing of food grains. We have been able to sensitise youths on the need to take farming as a vocation under the school farm programme.’’