Yemisi Izuora
Flour Milling Association of Nigeria (FMAN) has donated 2,000 units of plantable seeds in 50 kilogram, KG, bags for distribution to farmers in wheat producing states of Nigeria.
This is the first part of the Association’s two-phase support programme to wheat farmers. Under phase 2, FMAN has placed firm overseas orders for some multi-crop threshers which will be distributed to farmers sometimes in February 2018, for use by farmers at the beginning of the next harvest season.
Speaking at the presentation to the Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria (WFAN) in Kano, the Chairman of FMAN, Mr. John G. Coumantaros, said that the Association was in the forefront of championing the production of wheat in Nigeria.
In his address given by the Vice Chairman of FMAN, Mr. Olanrewaju Jaiyeola, he recalled that under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between FMAN and WFAN, signed in the office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abuja on 7th June, 2016, FMAN gave an undertaking to purchase all the available wheat grains that meet specifications set out in the MoU; this has continued for two seasons and is expected to continue in the coming season.
Mr. Coumantaros noted that the presentation was a follow up to a similar action which took place in Kano in November last year. According to him, as a good corporate citizen and in demonstration of its great support to wheat farmers, FMAN donated 2,500 units of 3-inch water pumps and 2,500 units of plantable seeds in 50kg bags with total financial outlay of N150 million were presented at the occasion.
The Chairman also recalled FMAN’s release of a Research and Development Grant of N20 million (Twenty Million Naira) to Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI) in September 2016, to enable the Institute conduct research into improved wheat farming, wheat technology and modern agronomy practices.
FMAN believes that its actions would strengthen and improve the collaboration and co-operation between wheat farmers and flour millers to attain a common goal – accelerated wheat production in Nigeria in total alignment with Government policy to achieve food sufficiency and security, create jobs and reduce dependence on importation and save foreign exchange.
Mr. Coumantaros says, “we see our role as complementary to Government policies and measures particularly the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrower Programme (ABP), which is aimed at transforming how the financing of small holder agriculture is addressed.”
Responding to the gesture, the Chairman of WFAN, Alhaji Salim Sale Mohammed identified the event as a milestone in the journey the two associations had embarked upon towards the promotion and sustainable development of Nigeria’s wheat value chain.
He appreciated FMAN for the kind gesture which had become regular and consistent. He challenged his colleagues, the wheat farmers to make the best use of the seeds, work harder and produce greater volume of wheat for flour millers to take off.
Alhaji Salim identified lack of funding as a major constraint towards achieving accelerated wheat production and therefore appealed to the Central Bank of Nigeria to extend the Anchor Borrowers Programme to Wheat Farmers.
He said that Wheat Farmers in the country were seriously concerned about the low yield, which he put at an average of 3 to 4 metric tons per hectare, a far cry from the target of 7 to 8 metric tons per hectare. He blamed the situation on the non-availability of quality seeds.
He then made a strong appeal for a major Government intervention to support the seed companies operating in Nigeria as well as the agricultural Research Institutes to produce and multiply foundation and certified seeds for wheat farmers.
Earlier, Mr. Coumantaros acknowledged the wonderful commitment of the Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, OFR, his counterpart, Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and the Executive Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Muhammed Badaru Abubakar and he expressed FMAN’s appreciation for the pivotal role they are playing in the wheat value chain committee set up by the Federal Government.
He also thanked the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and rural Development for championing a great transformation and for creating a conducive environment.
FMAN’s Chairman made a special mention of the role of the former Executive Director of Lake Chad Research Institute and his team for their untiring efforts in the wheat value chain.