Phone for Farmers: Doubts trails FG Explanation

Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina has denounced the report, which quoted his Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, to have said the Federal Government would spend N6000 to purchase each of 10 million cell phones to empower rural farmers.

 Ridiculous as the initiative had presented, Dr Adesina’s credible pedigree and track record of professional service helped to dissuade analytical Nigerians from taking the Permanent Secretary’s alleged statement as gospel. Yet the story, going by radio, television, internet, and newspaper commentaries, rattled all government officials who were connected with the initiative.

Although Adesina eventually appeared at a Press conference early in the week to say there was no N60billion waiting anywhere to be spent on cell phones, he did not come out clear on what would be spent by the Federal Government and how it would be administered for farmers to produce more food for Nigerians.

 To use some newspaper account of the Press Conference, Adesina was quoted to have said ‘To be entitled to a phone, farmers must be registered on the e-wallet platform. Paper vouchers will be issued to farmers who do not have phones. The government will provide a subsidy to the farmer through the voucher to buy the phone. The farmer takes the voucher to the local mobile phone operator and pays the balance which is the difference between the value of the voucher and the cost of the phone. Once a farmer buys a phone and a SIM card, his new phone number will be updated on the e-wallet database and he will be able to receive his e-wallet voucher which will entitle him to purchase fertiliser and seeds at subsidised rates.’

 That did not explain the wide difference between the Minister's thought process and what his Permanent Secretary thought the whole project was about.

 The Minister spent time philosophising when all that was required was a convincing explanation of his reforms. According to him ‘I have stolen no man’s silver, nor demanded any man’s gold, and will continue to drive bold innovation and reforms to fully modernise and transform the agricultural sector. That is my remit from the President and that is exactly what we will do, as I continue to serve my nation with the highest level of vision, passion, personal integrity and dedication’.