The Federal Government on Wednesday said that no fewer than 10 million cell phones would be distributed to farmers to boost agricultural production in the country. Mrs Ibukun Odusote, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said this at a sensitisation programme for farmers at Igan-Ipabi. In Ijebu-East Local Government Area of Ogun.
She said the distribution of the cell phones was one of the steps being taken by the ministry to ensure food security in Nigeria. Odusote said that the Ministry of Information Technology and other relevant stakeholders had been contacted to collaborate toward effective distribution of the phones.
"As part of the electronic-wallet which we are promoting, the handsets will be the toll with which we will communicate to farmers in the rural areas.
"Deep into the interiors, we will be able to communicate with them. " We are actually working
with the Ministry of Communication Technology, so they are talking to the network providers.
"They will extend their networks into rural areas where normally they will say there is no economic
viability . "The Federal Government will be putting some support into this, they will go into the
hinterlands and expand their network so that we can have access," Odusote explained. She said appropriate measures had been taken to commence the distribution exercise before the end of the first quarter. Odusote also said that the beneficiaries would receive direct alert for the
collection of fertiliser as well as information on farming seasons, prices of
products and scarcity period. She added that farmers would get 50 per cent subsidy on fertiliser as well as other necessary assistance from government. Though Odusote did not specify the exact amount to be expended on the project, she stated that the phones would be bought directly from the manufacturing company. She added that some of the manufacturing companies had also expressed readiness to partner
with the ministry and invest in the sector. Odusote also said farmers would be provided with solar-
powered lamps for charging the phones, adding that the initiative was to achieve a complete value change in the sector.
She said graduates searching for white collar jobs should tap into the opportunity, noting that this would bring about overall development in the sector.
The Regional Director in the ministry, Mr Olalekan Quadri, said measures were being put in place to
ensure farmers engage in mechanised farming.
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uttermost Rubbish
ReplyDeletePRODIGAL SON AND DAUGHTER OF NIGERIA .
ReplyDeleteAssuming #3,000 per phone .
10m phones at rate of 3,000 / per one = #30bn .
However , the project will not impact meaningful thing on the life of poor farmer and Nigerian at large .
The problem facing farming or agriculture in Nigeria is not communication but
(1) Irrigation Problem
(2) Good road to transport farm produce
(3) Good Silo or Storage facility to store product for long period of time .
(4) Electricity which is affecting spring up of small scale industry that can package perishable product.
Moreover , i believe will have professionals in the field of agriculture that can provide long term solution to food crises in this country .
Also , it is high time we should move to commercial farming .
By compelling all Local Government to have there own farm .
These will compliment the effort of Peasant farmers that are already old .
Later you will blame CABAL in communication sector .
YOU ARE NOT SERIOUS .
It has been prophesied - Agriculture will boom this year. This is a good sign. I just hope you'll help them recharge the phones as well.
ReplyDeleteKindly clearify pls, d boom is for the farmers or the politicians?
DeleteThe way our leaders reason...we are in serious trouble. What's the guarrantee that network providers will be willing to be part of this madness & extend their services to those areas? Its simply an attempt to enrich themselves, if not what's the criteria for sharing it
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of country is Nigeria? Where do these blockheads come from with these stupid ideas. What are d credentials of these people in government? So mrs odusote actually studied agric science in d secondary school and was taught that mobile phones is a panacea to our agricultural challenges? Even if she didn't offer d course, am sure one of her kids did. chai!
ReplyDeleteX
this is unprofessional reasoning
ReplyDelete