ibironkeeniola 
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has said it would extend the Agro-Processing, Agricultural Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Programme to Adamawa State.
The Ministry said the state would benefit in the next tranche which would cover 12 more states. The pilot phase of the World Bank-supported project had involved only six states.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mohammed Sabo Nanono gave the assurance last week during a courtesy visit of Adamawa State Governor, Ahamadu Umaru Fintiri, to his office.
APPEALS is part of the Ministry’s plan to upshot the country’s agricultural sector for food self-sufficiency and economic transformation.
The Minister said that Adamawa State was strategic and viable especially in its livestock and other agricultural potentials.
Nanono further disclosed that the state would benefit from the Livestock, Productivity, and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project.
The Project, he explained, is focused on how to improve Nigeria’s indigenous cattle production, including through the use of genetic enhancement like is being done in Brazil.
He explained that the livestock value chain has huge financial benefits such as in dairy and other produce, adding that the ministry would take advantage and explore it.
Meanwhile, Nanono also called on the state to embrace the ministry’s Agricultural Mechanization Programme which he said would kick-off soon.
According to him, the Programme, which is also being practice in Brazil, Ghana and Mozambique with huge successes, is bound to record succeed in Nigeria.
He further assured that the Programme would be private sector-driven and would include the provision of processing and service centres, administrative offices, workshops and storage facilities, among others.
Nanono, therefore, urged the governor to mobilize and sensitize the farmers particularly, those at the Local Government Areas, to take advantage of the initiative to invest in it once implementation begun.
On his part, Governor Fintiri promised to set in motion plans for the smooth take-off the Programme once it took off.
Fintiri added that his administration was key on improving the socio-economic wellbeing of the people of the state, especially after having suffered from the Boko Haram insurgency.
SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA