Food security: FG distributes inputs to farmer groups in Nasarawa

The Federal Government has distributed farm inputs and equipment to 25 smallholder farmers cooperatives in Nasarawa State to boost agricultural production and ensure food security.

This is  in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Sen. Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, represented by Engr. Frank Adole, Director of Rural Development in the Ministry, flagged off the distribution on Thursday in Lafia.

Kyari said the initiative was part of government’s efforts to support farmers with affordable and accessible inputs to enhance food production and reduce poverty.

“The Ministry is supporting small-scale farmers in Nasarawa State with herbicides, fungicides, knapsack sprayers, grinding machines, growth enhancers, power tillers, and water pumps, among other inputs.

"These will be distributed through commodity associations, cooperative groups, youth, women and persons with special needs,” he said.

He recalled that the Federal Government declared a state of emergency on food security in July 2023, stressing that agriculture remained a top priority of the present administration.

“The resolve of this administration is to develop and improve agricultural and rural productivity as well as achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger,” he added.

He explained that the ministry had put measures to ensure that the items were judiciously used and not sold.

"We will ensure that any group  found to have sold or diverted the items  would be arrested, and blacklisted from benefitting from subsequent interventions," said.

Also speaking, Mr Umar Tanko-Tunga, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Agriculture, represented by Mr Zacharia Christopher, said the gesture demonstrated government’s responsiveness to the plight of farmers.

He warned beneficiaries against reselling the items in markets, urging them to put the inputs to judicious use to increase production.

Earlier, Mr James Jolly, the State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, said the intervention was aimed at revamping food production and strengthening cooperatives as key stakeholders in achieving food security.

Leaders of benefiting cooperatives, including Alhaji Abdullahi Kyana, Gloria Boyi, Ango Nathan and Tafida Jibrin, commended the Federal Government for the support and pledged to utilise the items effectively. (NAN).