Federal government has Flagged off distribution of farming inputs, equipments and Seedlings to Small holder farmers in Kaduna State to boost food production.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammed Mahmoud Abubakar Flagged off the distribution in Kaduna.
Dr Abubakar explained that, Agricultural sector had been a priority of the current Administration with a view to stimulate local production of food to achieve self-sufficiency, attract investments, create jobs and enhance the livelihood of farming families.
He said the Ministry had designed various support programmes targeting small-holder farmers.
Dr Abubakar noted that, the distribution was part of the Ministry’s effort to intervene on the sufferings of the small holder farmers occasioned by insecurity and COVID-19 pandemic to avert food scarcity in the near future.
“Today, the Ministry is distributing seeds of different crops; certified seed yams, organic growth enhancer as well as various agricultural equipment and agro chemicals. These items are given to farmers free”.
The Minister further stated that, 35% of women farmers would benefit with the Agric inputs in line with the targets set in the National Gender Plan and Policies while 15% are targeted on farmers with special needs among others.
He urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the inputs to produce food for the nation while calling on other stakeholders to provide similar support to achieve self-sufficient in food production.
Some of the inputs distributed includes 450 Knapsack Sprayer, 30 Big Maize thresher, 80 Mechanical cashew picker –
18 Ginger slicing machine, 8 Acha processing machine, Super Boron Fertilizer – 400l, Glyphosate herbicide – 400l, Agrizyme 400 l.
Others are Growtech (growth enhancer) 1,000l, Pineapple Peeler 1440, Rhizome washing machine 4, Mini – milling machine 6, Solar water pump 15, Spaghetti machine 230, Corn harvester 15, Bag closer 30
Zerofly bags 4,800, Resilate – 3200, Watering can 500, Cypermethrin 1450
Water Pump – 80 among other equipments.
Governor Nasiru Elrufai represented by the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Ibrahim Hussaini said Kaduna State had key into the federal government policy and strategy in Agriculture.
Malam Elrufai who explained that, in the last seven years, Kaduna State government had attracted more than one billion dollars investment in the area of Agriculture, commended the Minister for distributing the Agric inputs and implements in the state.
In a remark, the Coordinator, Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Kaduna State, Mrs Hannatu Sonni appealed to the government to provide them with simple equipments that can simplify ways of farming instead of continuous holding of hoe.
Some of the Beneficiaries who spoke with Radio Nigeria expressed appreciation to the federal government for the support, stressing that it would go along way in motivating them to engage more in farming.
AMINU DALHATU