Hon. Sabo Nanono Media Forum

TARON KARRAMA MAI GIRMA COMRADE IDRIS IBRAHIM PA. 2 NA MINISTAN GONA, DA HADAKAR KUNGIYAR INTEGRITY AND TRUST FORUM SU KAI MASA A DAREN YAU A DAKIN TARO NA HOTEL DIN SLIPRITE DA KE GARIN ZARIA. BISA GA SADAUKARWA DA GUDUNMAWA DA YA KE BAWA ALUMMARSA MUSMMAN MATASA

I joined Imo State Governor, H.E. Sen. Hope Uzodimma to flag-off Agricultural Inputs Distribution to Farmers Nationwide in Owerri, yesterday.

A madadin mai girma Minister Noma da raya karkara Alh. Sabo Muhd Nanono na kuma sanar da matasa don fitowa wurin yin register ta daukar yansanda kyauta ta karkashin ofis din Mai taimaka masa na musamman wato Comrade Idris Ibrahim Unguwar Gini (Makama) kuma shugaban ciyar da matasan Kano gaba (KYPC) wadda zai gudana a sakatariyar Kano Youth promotion council dake kan titin Maiduguri road Tarauni kusa da gidan Man Aliko Filling Station Tarauni daga ranar Asabar 18/7/2020 zuwa abin da ya sauwaka.
Abubuwan da ake da bukata azo dasu don yin wannan register sune;
1. National ID card
2. Email address
3. Five credit including maths and English must be credit
4. Age start from 17 yrs to 25 yrs
Sign
Baffa Garba
Secretary KYPC
For: President

The minister of Agriculture Hon. SABO NANONO free Npower registration team, organised and headed by his personnel aid Comrade Idris Ibrahim Makama

On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture and rural development Alh. Sabo Muhd Nanono wishes to announce to the general public a free registration NPower exercise under the office of his personal Aid Comrade Idris Ibrahim Unguwar Gini ( Makama) President Kano Youth Promotion Council kypc schedule to take place at Kano Youth promotion council Secretariat along Maiduguri road close to Aliko Filling Station from Sundays, Mondsys, Wednesdays and Fridays
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sign
Baffa Garba
Secretary KYPC
For any enquiry contact those numbers
08030658811, 08035339082, 08031885623

NB Endeavour to come with all needed credentials, face mask and observe social distancing.

*Plans for N13bn Pest Control Intervention Fund - Agric Ministry*

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has explained the purpose of the N13 billion intervention fund approved for pest control across 12 frontline Northern states in Nigeria.

The states to be covered under the funds are: Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba, Yobe and Borno.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mohammed Sabo Nanono, last Friday announced the approval of the fund during a flag-off ceremony for the 2020 dry season trans-boundary migratory pest control.

Speaking during the ceremony held at the Birnin Kebbi International Airport in Kebbi State, Nanono had noted that the intervention fund will help to control the transboundary flow of pests such as quelea birds, locusts and grasshoppers.

It will also help Nigeria to ensure uninterrupted agricultural activities during the 2020 farming season, and to minimize the impact of the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the minister added.

However, there have been worries from some quarters over the details of the pest control fund considering the cost.

Giving a breakdown of the approved fund, Technical Adviser on Knowledge Management and Communication to Nanono, Barr. Richard Mark-Mbaram, noted that pest control was beyond spraying of chemicals.

Mbaram explained that the fund will cover the cost of refurbishment of old equipment and purchasing of new ones, procurement of chemicals and the deployment of personnel.
The fund will also cover the setting up of a mechanism for early warning systems, as well as cover the costs for research into biotechnological and more environmentally-friendly approaches to pest control.

Speaking during the ceremony last Friday, Nanono had pointed out that pest control became important following reports of desert locust outbreak in East Africa and the Middle East, with the possibility of a spillover into West Africa, including Nigeria.

The Agric Minister noted that the fund will help Nigeria ensure uninterrupted food supply in the country by protecting crop production.

He further submitted that President Muhammadu Buhari “is very determined to fight any menace that would truncate the tremendous success recorded so far especially in the Agricultural sector.”

“The choice of Kebbi State for the flag-off is deliberate in view of the extensive agricultural activities in the state and the immense cooperation and collaboration of the state government in the implementation of agricultural interventions over the years,” the minister added.

Nanono also lauded the Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and other governors of the front-line States for their collaboration and cooperation with the ministry towards reducing the effect of migratory pests across the states.

In his remarks, Bagudu commended Buhari for his vision and people-orientated policies in the agriculture sector.

The governor said that the president’s commitment towards the sector will help to ensure job creation, increase food security and boost the economy for the good of Nigerians.

*17/06/2020*

*Two million farmers will get zero interest financing –FG*

The Federal Government on Tuesday announced that it would provide zero interest financing options for two million smallholder farmers nationwide under its Agric for Food and Jobs Plan.

It said the plan was aimed at mitigating the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country’s agricultural sector.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, told journalists at a press briefing in Abuja that the AFJP scheme would be a joint venture including the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Central Bank of Nigeria, private sector operators and farmers.

“This programme will be achieved through investment in the sector by way of providing zero interest input financing options such as fertilisers and seeds to farmers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to produce harvests that could be sold domestically and internationally,” he stated.

Nanono said the programme, which the FMARD had perfected plans to inaugurate, would run for a duration of 12 months with an aggregate of two million hectares of land.

He explained that the scheme would link farmers to markets for off-take through out-grower schemes and improve crop yields per hectare.

The minister said, “This will in turn ensure food security in the post COVID-19 era and position smallholder farmers to be drivers of economic growth by evolving from subsistence farming to commercial production.

“The AFJP targets two million smallholder farmers across the 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT and aims to produce 10 million tonnes of food which include carbohydrates, animal protein and edible oils within the next 12 months.”

According to Nanono, priority crops and livestock targeted by the AFJP for local markets include rice, maize, sorghum, groundnuts, cowpea, cassava, and millet.

Others include horticulture, palm kernel and cotton, while sesame seeds, hibiscus, cocoa, hides and skin, horns and hoofs are targeted for export.

The Minister said the government would continue protecting jobs in the sector to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the food supply chain.

*17/06/2020*

As we witness the second World Food Safety Day yesterday, I would like to reassure my commitment on improving not only food quantity but quality accross Nigeria.

No country is safe without food safety and nutritional security. A healthy nation is a wealthy and productive nation.

Food's safety, is everyone's business!

Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai is the Guest of Honour at the roll out of seed distribution for farmers for the 2020 planting season by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture at the Livestock House, Mando.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono is in Kaduna to flag-off the distribution of Agric Inputs to Farmers.

Ministan Gona da Raya Karkara, tarayyar Najeriya,Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Na Nono,ya bukaci masu sai da shinkafa kan su dinga yin sassauci ga alumma.
Ya bayyana Hakan ne a ziyarar da ya kawo tashoshin Rahma Radio 97.3FM da kuma Rahma TV, dafatan wayan da aka yi domin su za su yi amfani da shawarar musanman lokacin Azumi.

This morning, I paid a condolence visit to Emir of Kano, HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II, over the death of his uncle Late Amb. Ado Sanusi, as delegation of the Presidency led by Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, State Chief of Protocol Amb. Lawal Kazaure, Honourable Minister of Defence, Gen. Bashir Salihi Magashi and Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), Mal. Garba Shehu.

We proceed to the resident of the deceased to condole with his brother Galadiman Kano, Alh. Abbas Sanusi.

Later in the afternoon, I paid a visit to Popular Farm and Mills Limited, alongside Chairman House Committee on Agriculture Hon. Munir Babba Dan'agundi and officials of Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

I commend their efforts and commitment and also revealed our plans to review the price of rice.

ONGOING: FG REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO QUALITY SEEDS FOR NIGERIAN FARMERS

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono has stated that quality seed is a key input towards enhancing Agricultural productivity and ensuring food security, job creation and economic growth in Nigeria.

Speaking during the National Seed Retreat organised by the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC),at the IAR Conference Hall, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, today, 27/02/20, the Minister noted that seed is the carrier of the genetic potential of the crop plant that determines the upper limit of yield and the ultimate productivity of fertilizers, agro-chemicals and other inputs including machineries and farming techniques.

Nanono informed that the Ministry has the responsibility to provide a conducive policy environment of ensuring the sustenance of a virile National Seeds System and to enable a credible, dynamic, competitive and relevant industry which provides healthy and high-quality planting materials for Nigerian farmers and for export irrespective of their location. According to him,""This is the reason I have called this important meeting for us all to discuss the grey areas that needs to be straightened for seed sector development".

He emphasised that the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) in partnership with all relevant stakeholders is responsible for seed industry development and regulation in the country and has over the years been involved in various activities towards ensuring the development of the nation’s seed sector.

He pointed out that the overall set of policy principles of the Agriculture Promotion Policy (APP) ,would concentrate on providing an enabling environment for stakeholders at the federal and state level to play their distinctive roles.

He also said that the policy would provide a conducive legislative and agricultural knowledge framework, macro-policies, security enhancing physical infrastructure and institutional mechanisms for coordination, access to adequate inputs, finance, information on innovation, agricultural services and markets.

Alhaji Sabo Nanono tasked the Stakeholders on the need to render services for posterity , "Your presence here as stakeholders is simple but are service to posterity because with a growing population expected to reach above 400 million in few years from now we must plan ahead. Recognize the importance of this Sub sector to the overall sustenance of national plan through agricultural productivity".

He further said "we are all challenged today to identify, discuss determine the type of interventions needed (technological, regulatory and others) to make quality seeds available to farmers through sustainable systems and construct roadmap, with specific recommendations, to guide a sound and sustainable dissemination strategy for improved crops to resource poor farmers in Nigeria in particular and West in general ".

In his remarks, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senator Abdullahi Adamu stated that there is need to focus more on locally made seed because they have been tested and proven in the Seeds sub sector and assured that the bills before both chambers of the National Assembly would soon be passed into laws.

During his goodwill message, the Chairman, House Committee on Agric. Production and Services, Hon. Danduste Muntari said that quality Seed is vital in the process of achieving food sufficiency, job creation and would boost the internally generated revenue in the country. He also lauded President Muhammadu Buhari's agenda in the Agricultural sector which he said would change the narrative on the economy shifting from oil sector to the Agricultural sector.

In his welcome remarks, the Director General,National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), Dr. Philip Olusegun Ojo, informed that " NASC has introduced/launch the National Seed Tracker, introduced the turn-key electronic Seed Authentication system, developed a Five (5) year strategic plan and up-graded the central seed testing laboratories to meet international Standards".

Dr. Philip Ojo stated that NASC has has commenced effort towards the introduction of a Legislation for the Protection of New Varieties of Plant (PVP) in Nigeria as well as firming up on its membership of international organizations like the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), International Seed Federation (ISF) International Seed Testing Association (ISTA). According to him, "all in a bid to promote our nations participation in the global trade of seeds and enhance our quality seed delivery capability while encouraging private sector participation in the Seeds Sub sector".

He advocated for the quick passage of the PVP law to complement the existing Seed Act for the establishment and maintenance of a strong legal protection for seed and plant products and its enforcement so as to deter those who engage in illegal seed.

FG promises to create 300, 000 jobs in Plateau through agric scheme
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/02/fg-promises-to-create-300-000-jobs-in-plateau-through-agric-scheme/

LIVE: Workshop Opening by the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alh. Muhammad Sabo Nanono at the SAPZ Inception Workshop ongoing at Ladi Kwali Hall of Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja. Monday 17th February 2020.

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FG Blasts “Untrue” Report on Querying of Nanono over Fertiliser Import Waiver

By

AgroNigeria

-

February 7, 2020



The Federal Government has described as “untrue” a story published by ThisDay on Monday which reported that President Muhammadu Buhari had issued a query to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, for granting fertiliser import waiver to some companies contrary to his presidential fertiliser initiative policy.

ThisDay in the said story reported that Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, had written to Nanono to demand explanation on his ministry’s breach of the presidential policy.

Nanono was said to have issued import licenses to companies to import fertilisers into the country in a bid to bridge the shortfall between local production and demand for the product.

The report said Nanono’s action contradicted the gains made under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Nigeria and Morocco in 2016 to help the former receive her ailing fertiliser industry through the supply of phosphates for local blending.

The MoU, consummated in 2018 when Buhari visited Morocco, was said to have helped Nigeria revive 28 of her previously comatose fertiliser production companies.

The report further said that the query was issued after local producers of fertilisers protested the import waiver issuance to the presidency.

The presidency in his reaction was said to have directed the minister to cancel the licenses immediately, further directing the Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure strict implementation of the country’s policy on foreign exchange for fertiliser importation.

But in a rejoinder released by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) on Monday and signed by its Permanent Secretary, Mua’zu Abdulkabir, the ministry said Nanono was not queried over any fertiliser import waiver.

FMARD said the ministry

FG to distribute 10,000 tractors, inputs to farmers across 774 LGAs

The Federal Government has said it will provide farmers with 10,000 tractors to boost agricultural output in the country.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Nanono, said the tractors, fertilisers, chemicals and other inputs would be distributed to farmers under a soft-loan scheme.

The scheme, according to him, is designed to boost agricultural mechanisation in the country.

The minister according to a statement from the ministry said these during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Sanusi, in his palace.

Nanono said the government would distribute the 10,000 tractors and inputs to farmers in the 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria.

The minister explained that each of the councils would be allocated tractors worth N150m each and inputs as soft loan to be repaid in an 11 year plan.

He said the beneficiaries must be genuine farmers and indigenes of the participating Local Government Areas.

Nanono noted that the gesture was to assist farmers to boost their production capacity so that the government could mop up excess produce for strategic reserves.

The minister said the Federal Government would begin the implementation of the programme in the second quarter of this year.

The Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Sanusi, represented by Alhaji Basiru Sanusi said that the council had set up a committee to mobilise participation in the agricultural transformation programme of government.

PUNCH

Yesterday, I commissioned a Chinese oil mill, Huafei Int'l (Nig) Ltd at Jogana, Gezawa LGA Kano State.

Such industries provide jobs and development for surrounding communities and also improve production to reach our demand.

I proceed to Jigawa State for a working visit, where I was received by the Executive Governor HE Muhammad Badaru Abubakar represented by the Secretary to the State Government Alh. Adamu Abdulkadir Fanini.

In Jigawa, I visited the Emir of Dutse, HRH Alh. Nuhu Muhammadu Sunusi who was represented by Galadiman Dutse Alh. Basiru Sunusi.

I am impressed by the organization and plans of the Emirate to improve farming across Dutse.

In Jahun, I inspected the Strategic Grains Reserve alongside Alh. Abdulkadir Fanini, SSG Jigawa State, Engr. Mathew Owolabi, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Regional Director NW, Commissioner of Agric, Jahun Local Government Chairman and other important dignitaries across Jigawa State.

The State Chairman, AFAN pointed out some issues pertaining to the development of Agricultural sector in the state, which I noted.

In the late evening, I stopped at Gaya silo for inspection.

This is to ensure the functionality of the silos accross the nation to reaffirm the Buhari led administration's commitment to food security.

PHOTOS: Minister Inspects Strategic Grains Reserve FacilIty- Says Government is committed to food security.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring food security through its various intervention projects across the federation.

Speaking during an inspection visit to the Silo complex at the Strategic Grains Reserve in Gusau , Zamfara State, the Minister said Government was interested in the programme as it guarantees food security and regulates the market prices of the produce especially at non seasonal period. He said, “government is interested in the programme, it is a means of price control and guarantees food security”.

The Minister who was elated at the storage facility further, explained that the intervention programme was to “arrest disaster or any crisis situation that may arise from draught and also serves as a bridge to cushion inflation and stabilize the prices at all seasons for the benefit of Nigerians”.

He assured Nigerians that the Buhari administration is “not here for failure but serious about ensuring food sufficiency”, adding that the mop up is an on going process as long as there are enough silos to store them.

In his brief on the facility to the Minister, the Director, Strategic Grains Reserves, Engr Sule Haruna, explained that 33 Nos Silos have been largely completed across the nation and put to use to “mop up grains and give Nigerians hope of food security“.

He informed that it was the food scarcity in 2009 that gave birth to an additional 18 that brought the total to the 33 nos and that Zamfara is one of the states that benefited. He explained that the silo had a storage of 23,000 metric tonnes of mop up excess grains under the Special intervention programme in 2019; 9,000 metric tonnes of Maize and 14,000 metric tonnes of Sorghum, adding that the 20 no Gusau Silos has a total capacity of 100,000 metric tonnes.

Engr Haruna further said that the Silos are automated in line with international best practices and explained that each silo stores the equivalent of 166,000 trailer load of grains.

The Hon Minister had earlier paid a courtesy visit on the Executive Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Bello Matawalle and informed him that the Federal Government is embarking on a massive agricultural mechanization programme that will galvanize the sector and position it for economic growth and food security.

Nanono said although the mechanization programme will be largely private sector driven, government will provide 242 tractors across the country with servicing centers and workshops to store finished goods. According to him, “ it will have a workshop and a store for finished goods as well as fertilizer and seeds and this is going to be owned by the private sector”. He added that government will guarantee the loans for financing the tractors and equipment.
The Minister urged the local government areas in the state and across the nation to take advantage of the agricultural revolution in the sector by taking ownership of the service centers. “ we want the local governments to own the projects, this will go a long way to enhance agricultural development in the country”.

In his remarks, the governor represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Bala Bello Maru, said the state government was grateful to the Federal Government for the gesture of siting the grains reserves and other projects in the state. He expressed delight over the mechanization programme for the agricultural sector, stating that the state will stand to benefit especially in the light of the security challenge it has been burdened with.

He said, “Zamfara State needs the support and assistance of the federal government because we are a victim of banditry, kidnapping, rustling, and people have lost a lot of money in paying ransome”.

Eno Olotu (Mrs)
AD, Information
For: Director, Information

IN GUSAU: Agric Minister pays Courtesy Call on the Executive Governor of Zamfara State.

The Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alh. Muhammad Sabo Nanono, today Thursday 30th January 2020 while on an inspection visit to the newly completed 100,000 Metric Tonnes Automated Silos in Gusau Zamfara State, paid a courtesy call on the Executive Governor of Zamfara State, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad, ably represented by the Secretary to the State Government of Zamfara State, Alh. Bala Bello Mara.

In his address, the Minister stated that the forthcoming massive agricultural mechanisation across 630 Local Government Areas in Nigeria will include all LGAs in Zamfara State.

The minister also assured that loans will be given to finance agricultural services across the state.

The Secretary to the State Government, Alh. Bala Bello Mara on behalf of the Executive Governor of the Zamfara State, Rt.Hon. Muhammad Bello thanked the Hon. Minister for the visit and expressed his appreciation on all the Ministry initiatives and interventions within Zamfara States.

NEWS: AGRIC MINISTER TASKS HIGHER INSTITUTIONS TO ADOPT TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development(FMARD),Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono has tasked the higher Institutions in Nigeria to adopt technology and innovation, stating that without sustainable efforts to achieve a shift from subsistence agriculture into a viable agribusiness, the challenge of feeding the growing population and creating a vibrant economy and massive jobs would be a mirage.

Speaking during the 27th Convocation Ceremony of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State,on Tuesday, 28th January,2020, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono noted that the main Agricultural policy thrust of the present administration is the attainment of sustainable food security and modernization of the Agric sector through Technology adoption and innovation.

Nanono said, " all over the world, the scientific transformation of agriculture is a challenging task that requires a holistic, integrate and systematic approach that weighs the traditional nature of the sector against burning desire to modernize the sector in all its ramifications ".

The Minister stressed that agricultural universities should provide and nurture the intellectual basis for addressing the inherent problem of traditional agriculture through knowledge creation, training and knowledge and transfer of knowledge.

Alhaji Sabo Nanono stated that knowledge transfer would empower and transform farmers in crops production, livestock and fisheries subsector as well as achieve food security, generate income and improve livelihood in the Nigeria.

He informed that " the Ministry will work with the Universities and other research and training institutions under its purview to be more organized and focus on Agricultural Development as clearly stated in their mandates"

He further stated that "the need for closer monitoring and coordination in line with government policies on the Agricultural sector informed the decision of the present administration to approve the return of the universities of Agriculture to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ".

The Minister pledged that " Government will continue to do its best within limited resources adding that the ministry has approached the Tertiary Education Trust Fund for funding support in the areas of applied research and possibly infrastructural development for the universities under its purview.

In his convocation address, the Vice- Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Prof. Felix Salako informed that "three thousand two hundred and twenty- six in population, have been found worthy to be awarded first degrees in various disciplines,112 Students in the first class category, I congratulate you all on behalf of the council, principal officers, Senate, staff and other Stakeholders ".

In his remarks, the president of African Development Bank Group, who was also awarded with Honorary degree, Doctor of science,Dr. Akinwumi Adesina noted that "we must develop well integrated agricultural Value chain to make Nigeria more competitive in the food and Agriculture industry. That's why the African Development Bank will be supporting the Federal Government of Nigeria in the development of Special agroindustrial processing zones in Nigeria ".

Prof Adesina explained that "these will be enabled with consolidated infrastructure. They will allow the establishment of food and agribusinesses in rural areas, close to zones of production, creating jobs and transforming the rural economies with wealth".

He pointed out that "Universities of agriculture such as the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, have great roles to play in linking research, innovations and technologies to farmers and the food and agriculture industry".

He also informed that " the African Development Bank is spearheading efforts to Feed Africa and is investing $25 billion over a ten year period to transform the continents agriculture".

Director, Information (FMARD)
30/01/19

PRESS RELEASE: Agricultural Mechanization is the solution towards achieving Food Sufficiency and Job Creation in Nigeria - Agric Minister.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono has stated that Agricultural Mechanization is the solution towards achieving food sufficiency and job creation in Nigeria. The policy is expected to involve a full technology package transfer that will cover all stages, from agricultural production to industrial processing , packaging and marketing.

The Minister made this statement during the courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun in Government House, Abeokuta, on Tuesday 28th of January, 2020

Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono informed that the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari would commence Agricultural Mechanization initiative in the next three to four months, "the programme will be private sector driven and that government would only create the enabling environment and offer assistance where necessary".

Nanono noted that Ogun State was paramount in Cocoa and Rice production and there is need to revive the cocoa industry in particular. According to him " we must develop new cocoa varieties in Nigeria because the new cocoa varieties will yield in 2 1/2 years.

He reiterated that the programme would have service centers across the country, 140 processing centers, and it would enhance production, create more jobs and grow the nation's Internally Generated Revenue.

In his speech, the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun said that Minister has depth knowledge of the Agriculture Sector and that Mr. President made the right decision by appointing him as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Governor Abiodun emphasized that Ogun is the closest state to the biggest economically viable state- Lagos and also the food basket of the nation. He pointed out that the state have keyed into Federal Government programmes in the Agriculture sector.

He informed that there is massive investment in capacity building especially in extension services, which aims at improving yields in farm products like cassava, maize, cotton, rice, among others. He further said that the State runs background checks for the extension service workers to ensure accountability and transparency.

Director, Information (FMARD)