LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – The Federal Government has initiated the distribution of agricultural inputs to farmers in Abia, Kebbi, and Yobe states, aimed at cultivating crops on over 340 hectares of farmland across the three states.
This move comes amidst global agricultural challenges and food shortages, underscoring the government’s commitment to ensuring food security for its citizens.
The National Agricultural Land Development Authority, a federal government agency, distributed the inputs to help farmers optimise crop cultivation, leading to enhanced yields and increased food production.
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In a statement released in Abuja on Friday, NALDA confirmed that each accredited beneficiary of the empowerment program received bags containing high-grade fertiliser, herbicides, and improved maize seeds in Abia and Yobe states.
Meanwhile, farmers in Kebbi received enhanced rice seeds.
The distribution event in Abia saw beneficiaries from all local governments convening at the NALDA Institute of Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship in the IsiAla Okpu community of Osisioma Local Government Area. Officials from the agency, led by Executive Secretary Paul Ikonne, oversaw the distribution of the empowerment packages.
Ikonne, speaking in the farmers’ local dialect, emphasised the significance of the empowerment program He was quoted as saying, “The government is making sure that you can produce what you’ll eat by providing you inputs.
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“The essence of what we are doing here today is to ensure Nigerians understand the importance of farming, make sure we produce what we eat and to reduce the price of food in the market. We are expecting nothing less than 340 hectares to be cultivated by these farmers.”
Ikonne assured the farmers that NALDA would provide ongoing support with agricultural inputs, mentioning that the agency had recorded the contact details of all beneficiaries in its database for follow-up assistance.
He also mentioned that more farmers would be included in the program periodically.
Furthermore, he emphasised that the empowerment program aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring affordable food for Nigerians.
In Kebbi, the NALDA state administrator, Bashar Bunza, led the team that distributed inputs to beneficiaries from various local governments.
During the distribution, Ngaski Local Government Area Chairman, Manir Abubakar, thanked NALDA for their generous support
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Abubakar emphasized that the bags, containing high-yielding rice seeds, fertilizers, and herbicides, would enhance food production. He urged beneficiaries to use the inputs wisely and not to sell them.
In Yobe State, the Director of Finance, Sulaiman Lawal led the NALDA team in distributing inputs to beneficiaries in Gashua, Bade Local Government Area.
Beneficiaries were drawn from six Local Government Areas of the state namely Bade, Yusufari, Jakusko, Nguru, Karasuwa and Machina.
The NALDA team provided beneficiaries with instructions on the contents of the bags and how to use them effectively to maximize yields.
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The NALDA empowerment program aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive for the agency to support farmers nationwide in producing food and achieving food sufficiency.
This initiative follows the President’s declaration of a state of emergency on food, prompting NALDA to complement efforts to enhance food security through empowerment programs, thereby alleviating the impact of the high cost of living.