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Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Sabo Nanono
By Akpan David, Calabar
As a way of bolstering rubber production to sustain Nigeria’s number 4th global ranking in the subsector of agriculture, smallholder rubber farmers are to enjoy sustained subsidies for farm inputs.
This assurance was given by the minister of agriculture, Alhaji Sabo Nanono in a message recently to a rubber stakeholders event in Benin.
He said a lot of efforts have been exerted to support rubber industry in the past, adding that government will not relent so that benefits of rubber can be increased.
The minister said: “Efforts aimed at providing farm inputs such as improved rubber budded stumps, fertilisers, agrochemicals, tapping knives, collecting cup hangers and even Lohashipppi processing machines will be provided for rubber farmers at subsidized rate.
“We will also earmark capacity building for farmers and extension supports. This is aimed at ensuring that rubber farmers do not just adopt Good Agricultural Practices to sustain Nigeria’s ranking in global competence and rubber production.”
Nanono noted that rubber is one of the three major tree crops after oil palm and cocoa.
He said: “There exists potentials of increasing natural rubber yield to 1200kh/ha from the 18 states known to produce the economic crop.”
He promised to help improve the technical know-how of rubber farmers, tappers, processors, and marketers on rubber budding techniques, rubber based agroforestry and rubber mixed farming.
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