President Bola Tinubu has announced plans to help farmers by converting fuel irrigation pumps to use renewable energy. This is to reduce the impact of the high cost of petrol, also known as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
During the 6th Africa-Wide Agricultural Extension Week (AAEW) in Abuja, President Tinubu’s representative, Minister Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, spoke about the government’s efforts to support farmers. He mentioned that the Federal Government understands the challenges caused by the increase in petrol prices. As a solution, they will introduce solar-powered irrigation pumps for a group of farmers to use.
President Tinubu emphasized the critical role of agricultural extension in bringing new technologies and innovations to farmers. The government has developed the first-ever Harmonized Extension Manual and National Agricultural Extension Policy to strengthen agricultural extension services in Nigeria. These resources will help extension administrators, specialists, agents, and farmers along the agricultural value chains.
President Tinubu highlighted the need for market-oriented agriculture instead of subsistence farming. To achieve this, the government has implemented programs like the national agriculture growth scheme-agro-pocket. Through this scheme, millions of farmers receive training on good agricultural practices and access to certified inputs, such as improved seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation equipment at subsidized prices. The government is also exploring renewable energy options, such as solar-powered irrigation pumps, to reduce the cost of fueling them.
The government’s goal is to develop the agricultural sector to achieve the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly zero hunger and self-sufficiency in food production. President Tinubu emphasized the importance of simple and accessible technologies for farmers. He also expressed the need for effective information flow to make a significant impact.
President Tinubu expressed concern about the lack of synergy and cooperation with agricultural research institutes. He mentioned that technologies and innovations are not being shared effectively. To address this, he proposed a demand-driven agricultural research development agenda to ensure that research findings are not left unused on shelves.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security plans to conduct a comprehensive stakeholder analysis and mapping as the foundation for future actions.
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