Kebbi State Government has flagged off free distribution of fertilizer and other farm inputs to farmers in the state.
During the launch, Governor Nasir Idris announced that the state aims to provide free fertilizer to 200,000 farmers as part of the Nigeria Community Action, Resilience Recovery, and Economic Stimulus programme.
According to him, this initiative is being carried out by the state Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and the FADAMA III Implementing Unit.
The Governor mentioned that the state had earmarked over N3 billion for the procurement of 100 trucks of fertilizer and another 110 trucks for the local government areas of the state.
He added that 48,000 farmers were expected to benefit from the fertilizer distribution under the state NG-CARES coordinating unit.
According to the Governor, the fertilizer distribution is intended to boost agricultural activities and enhance sufficient food production in the state.
He stated that the state government would be providing agricultural inputs to over 48,000 farmers to maintain food security in the state.
“During my administration no farmer would be left out as agriculture will be given priority. I recognize that agriculture is our own, we have comparative advantage and everything will be done to ensure that it’s being prioritize” .
Governor Idris said that over N4 billion was being earmarked for distribution to farmers in the form of farm implements and services, while agricultural assets worth over N3 billion would be distributed to dedicated farmers to improve yields across the food chain.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaj Shehu Mu’azu, highlighted the current food scarcity in the country and emphasized that increasing production is the only solution.
He explained that this was why the state government had decided to provide farm inputs worth billions of Naira free of charge to farmers, aiming to economically empower them and encourage food production for Nigerians.
The Commissioner stated that empowering farmers is the only way for the country to achieve food sufficiency and noted that Kebbi State is the largest rice-producing state in the country.
COV/Abdullahi Tukur
