The Board meeting of
the Frontier Argo-Industrial Programme –FAINAP held in Nkambe, divisional
headquarters of the Donga Mantung Division on November 4, 2017. During the
meeting, FAINAP representatives in the five sub Divisions represented their reports
on the just ended 2017 farming season.
Addressing stakeholders,
partners and special invitees, Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry, Founder/Promoter of
FAINAP who doubles as Secretary of state in the Ministry of Mines Industries
and Technological Development-MINMITD said his ministry has supported the program
with equipment worth FCFA 40 Million. The equipment according to Dr. Fuh
Calistus Gentry comprised of four motor bikes and a multi functional tractor. He
emphasized that the support is intended to boost maize production given that “if
you cannot produce, you cannot industrialize”. To Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry,
FAINAP main goal is to add value to agricultural and livestock produce. The bikes
he reiterated will serve FAINAP representatives in following up field
activities.
Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry
said he is amazed by the geometric increase in maize production that farmers
recorded this year, thanks to the improved seed donated by PIDMA which has
moved maize production from 1.5 tons per hectare to 4 tons per hectare reasons
why the animal feed processing plant is imperative. The animal feed processing
plant will process feed and grid, he added. With the already marked increase in
the production of maize, the feed/grid processing plant is also expected soon.
Ngabir Paul Bantar, Mayor of Nkambe, testified
at the meeting that for all his life he has never witnessed such a yield. The
main problem for now is storage, he added. As an indicator that maize
production has increased in Donga Mantung Division, the Delegate for Agriculture
says prices of a 15 liter bucket of corn is still as low as FCFA 2000 as
compared to FCFA 4500 to 5000 last year.
It should be noted that
more impetus is being put into this sector as Minister Fuh Calistus also
revealed that experts from the World Bank will be visiting Ngu village in the
Mbaw plain to finalize preparation for the construction of a maize storage
facility. Upon completion of storage facility farmers would be exchanging corn
for money on the spot. More so, the team from the World Bank will select some
pilot farmers who will benefit input support to professionalize their
activities. The first beneficiaries shall be selected in the Mbaw Plain.
Cattle
Cluster
During the meeting,
participants also exchanged ideas on how to kickstart the cattle cluster. It
was however agreed that cattle fattening and milk processing will boost the
sector. The Divisional delegate for Livestock elaborated that corn stalk can
easily be transformed in to cattle feed to compliment the Brachiaria which are
being planted. He revealed that since grass provides just 1/3 of the required
nutrients for cattle, Donga Mantung is blessed with anthill which has silicate
and can be mixed with crushed bones to fatten cattle. Minister Fuh Calistus
Gentry said he is already in contact with some Italian partners who are
specialized in branding. After branding, he added the produce could be sold in
European Markets notwithstanding that an already big market is on standby in
Nigeria.
Oil
Palm Cluster
The Founder/Promoter of
FAINAP also revealed that a FCFA 1.5 billion worth oil palm project submitted
to the ministry of economy and planning and Regional Development- MINEPAT with
the Production Basin (Agropole Project) has been approved and pending
disbursement of funds. According to Dr. Fuh Calistus the project activity will
consist of setting up small
transformation units in high production areas.
In his closing remarks,
the 2nd Assistant SDO for Donga Mantung lauded Minister Fuh Calistus
Gentry for such an initiative aimed at alleviating poverty in the Division and
called on elite to take advantage of this project to transform the lives of
their people. He caution the concerned delegation to provide technical services
to project as part of their normal function given that government is highly
involved in encouraging agriculture. He also reechoed the fact that plots
allocated to serve as demonstration plots should acquire the necessary
documentation to avoid conflict.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
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