The Federal Government has recently announced its intentions to initiate the implementation of the revamped National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-pocket (NAGSAP), in five states. These states have already witnessed the successful execution of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme Phase-One (ATASP-1) Project.
NAGSAP is an ICT-based platform used for farm inputs delivery, such as fertilisers, seeds, agrochemicals, among others, to farmers across the country. The targeted states include Niger, Kebbi, Jigawa, Kano and Sokoto.
During a preparatory meeting of stakeholders in Abuja, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, highlighted the primary goal of the project. The main objective is to boost the production of essential crops such as wheat, rice, maize, sorghum, and soybean.
This will be achieved by providing small-scale farmers with necessary farm inputs during both the wet and dry farming seasons. The initiative aims to enhance agricultural productivity and empower farmers to contribute significantly to the growth of these crucial crops in the designated states.
The project, being implemented through the ATASP-1 project of the Federal Government and funded by African Development Bank (AfDB), is a direct replacement of the Growth Enhancement Support (GES), which was re-introduced to address the yearnings of different value chain players.
Umakhihe further explained that the NAGSAP project will specifically target 60,000 smallholder farmers across 26 Local Government Areas in the five states where the ATASP-1 project has been implemented. These farmers are primarily engaged in the cultivation of rice, maize, and sorghum.
The project aims to provide crucial farm inputs, including fertilizers, seeds, and agrochemicals, to support these farmers. The ultimate goal is to enhance their agricultural productivity, leading to increased household incomes and improved livelihoods for the beneficiaries.
By empowering small-scale farmers with essential resources, the government seeks to drive sustainable growth in the agricultural sector and uplift the living standards of rural communities involved in the production of these vital crops.
According to the Permanent Secretary, the NAGSAP project will incorporate the use of an ICT platform for its implementation.
This technological integration serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it enables efficient evaluation of the program’s actual performances and its overall impact on the agricultural sector. Secondly, the ICT platform will facilitate tracking and monitoring of transactions between the beneficiary farmers and the input providers.
This approach is intended to promote transparency and accountability in the delivery process of agricultural inputs. By ensuring that the input distribution is transparent and accountable, the government aims to guarantee the sustainability of the NAGSAP scheme.
The use of technology in this manner is expected to optimize the program’s effectiveness and pave the way for a successful and enduring agricultural growth initiative.
He revealed that the project is targeted at supporting over 250,000 wheat farmers with relevant farm inputs to cultivate about 250,000 hectares with an expected output of 1,250,000 metric tonnes of wheat to be added to the food reserve so as to reduce dependence on foreign importation of the product and increase domestic consumption, particularly for flour millers.
