Memorandum on the Adoption of Maize-Soybean Transformation Implementation Plan in sixteen (15) States and Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

for improving system productivity and ensuring value-chain self-sufficiency

The Maize-Soybean transformation plan intend to increase maize productivity and profitability in Nigeria within the shortest possible time by implementing phased strategies that will ensure maize-soybean self sufficiency and opportunity for export by 2020. The program aim to aid productive value chain development in 13 (Kaduna, Kano, Niger, Adamawa, Taraba, Plateau, FCT, Bauchi, Gombe, Nasarawa, Kwara and Oyo) core maize-soybean producing states and of the additional ones (Ondo, Katsina and Enugu) in 2012 and expanding to other states the following year. The overall goal is to increase maize production to 20 million metric tons in Nigeria in the long run but to at least 12m tons by 2015 while on-farm yield of soybean is expected to double translation to a doubling of the production at the same time. To achieve this, dependable maize and complementary soybean production technologies are available and a favorable policy environment that promotes growth and creates jobs is being put in place. Strategy for Achieving Targets include (i) Productivity enhancement, Marketing enhancement strategy, (ii) Linking farmers to inputs, (iii) Improved seed system delivery support, (iv) On-farm demonstrations, (v) Capacity building, (vi) Grain collection and collation enters, (vii) Development of soybean data base, (viii) Establishment of a Soybean Market and Trade Development Corporation and (ix) Establishment of soybean innoculum production and supply facility

NCA is to kindly note that Maize and soybean plays a predominant role in the farming systems, and diets of millions of Nigerians. They are used for domestic consumption in addition to its industrial use by flour mills, oil mills, breweries, confectioneries and animal feed manufacturers. System productivity using the maize-soybean rotation is essential to maintaining the natural resource base of the maize production environment.

Prayer from NCA The council is kindly required to note and approve the implementation of the programme starting with the 16 mentioned sates in 2012

States should provide additional support for inputs especially fertilizer a PPP arrangement with banks for farmer to access fertilizer on loan with repayment being in cash or in-kind with grains at a determined price States to establish grain collection, collating and holding centers for easy access to bulk supply be identified end-users States to partner with reliable seed companies for the production and commercialization of best suited varieties for each state to optimize and stabilize yield