2016/2017 dry season farming flags off

The federal government has flagged-off the distribution of farm inputs via the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) under the 2016/2017 dry season farming and Wet Season Farming.
Flagging off the ceremony in Kano, the Minister of State for Agriculture Senator Heineken Lokpobiri said that they were in Kano to flag-off the dry season farming activities because Kano is a leading State in Agricultural revolution, more so with large arable land and a highly committed farming population.

Lokpobiri said that the GES Programme is for the poorest of the poorest subsistence farmers.   This GES scheme it has been observed has resulted in increased yield and production, therefore government has decided to  fund and develop this scheme, laudable  he however stressed that this scheme was not for farmers by proxy but for genuine farmers who need this assistance.  In the light this therefore, there shall be no more manual off line payment of redemption, but all redemption shall henceforth be done on-line.  The Minister said  during the ceremony, a sample method of the on-line redemption was done to  the satisfaction of dignitaries and farmers present.
The Minister also said government will be happy to collaborate with State Governments to sustain the scheme.

Earlier in his goodwill message, the Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, said government will provide enabling environment to make farming a commercial venture that  will enrich farmers like their counter part in the world.  Also the Senate Committee Chairman on Agriculture, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Said Senate will support all agricultural activities.  The Chairman House of Representative Committee on Agriculture represented by his Deputy also gave their commitment to the growth of the Agricultural Sector.
In another development, Lokpobiri commissioned the AF and C Fertilizer Blending plant at Madobi in Kano state.