IFAD, FG distribute agro equipment to 840 rural farmers

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), together with the Federal Government, has distributed N109 million worth of agro equipment to 840 rural farmers in Enugu State. The exercise, which took place at the Michael Okpara Square, at the weekend, was part of IFAD/FGN’s-assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP). The items distributed included 500 bags of fertilizers, 10 tricycles, 55 water pumps, 115 knapsack sprayers, five fufu pounder, 50 seed planters and five rice milling machines. Others were five haulers and polishing machines, 10 grater cassava polishing machines, 20 rice harvesters and 25 starter packs for confectioneries. Also, 40 of the 840 farmers supported were empowered with POS. In a speech at the event, Gov. Peter Mbah expressed his administration’s readiness to support the IFAD/FGN programme in the state. Mbah, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, thanked IFAD/FGN for the partnership with the state. He commended the organisation for its commitment in assisting farmers through its programmes aimed at increasing food production in the state. He further lauded IFAD for focusing largely on women empowerment, saying that the approach would help to reduce poverty in rural communities. He directed that all the equipment, which must be given to the farmers, should be closely monitored. He urged the beneficiaries to put the items to proper use in order to realise the set goals of the empowerment programme. In a speech, the National Coordinator of IFAD-VCDP, Dr Fatima Aliyu, thanked Mbah for paying off the outstanding four years arrears of the counterpart funds. Aliyu described the governor’s gesture as a testament of the State Government’s commitment toward the development of agriculture and poverty reduction in the state. Aliyu advocated the judicious use of the equipment by the beneficiaries, urging them not to disappoint the State Government that had immensely supported the programme. “Please don’t disappoint your governor, he cares for you. “That is why he paid all the outstanding counterpart funding. “Please, use them well,” Aliyu said. She said that the VCDP had made progress from support to market values. She further said that the programme had supported over 4,000 farmers, constructed rice and cassava processing centres. Other amenities, according to her, included water, solar-powered boreholes, market stalls, mini bridges, culverts for easy transportation for farmers and offtakers and creches. Aliyu disclosed that the organisation had also used a programme, tagged, “Gender Action Learning System” to change the mindset of women in the state. “We have made impact and we are achieving our programme development goals in Enugu State and elsewhere,” she said. Earlier in a welcome address, the State Programme Coordinator, Dr Edward Isiwu, said that the VCDP programme was tailored along market development and productivity enhancement, rice and cassava value chains. According to him, the programme is aimed at reducing rural poverty, increasing food security, and accelerating economic growth on a sustainable basis. Isiwu said that they had built five cassava mills and over six rice mills and created employment for people. He disclosed that the pilot programme was being implemented in five Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Aninri, Udenu, Enugu East, Nkanu East and Isi-Uzo.

FG distributes subsidized farm inputs to farmers in Kano

The Federal Government on Monday kick-started the distribution of subsidized farm inputs to farmers in Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano State. The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Ernest Afolabi, announced this during the inauguration of the distribution event in the ATASP-1 States, including Jigawa, Kebbi, Niger, and Sokoto. Dr. Ernest Afolabi, represented by Malam Tanimu Ibrahim, the Director of Planning and Policy Coordination, stated that the distribution marked the beginning of the 2023 delivery of subsidized inputs to approximately 60,000 farmers across the participating states. The program, which was initiated in March 2015, aims to enhance food and nutrition security, attract private-sector investments in agriculture, reduce post-harvest losses, and add value to local agricultural produce. Under the Commodity Value Chain Development component, the Federal Government, through the ministry, has been providing crucial production inputs to support farmers, emphasizing the importance of transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the input delivery process. To make the program more efficient, the government approved the introduction and use of an ICT platform for input delivery to farmers this year, highlighting the significance of this notable improvement. The Permanent Secretary reaffirmed the current administration’s commitment to boost agricultural production in the country, emphasizing the vital role of agriculture in achieving food security. Governor Abba Yusuf commended the initiative, represented by his deputy, Alhaji Aminu Gwarzo. He reiterated his administration’s dedication to providing farmers with affordable avenues to access soft loans from credible financial institutions, thus enhancing food security in the state. Alhaji Faruk Mudi, Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Kano State, assured that the farmers would utilize the inputs efficiently to produce diverse food crops, reflecting their commitment to agricultural growth and sustainability.

AMAC kicks off distribution of fertilizers, inputs to farmers

The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Chairman, Mr. Christopher Maikalangu, has distributed fertilizers and other agricultural inputs to 500 farmers across the twelve wards in the Area Council. He made the donation at the kick-off of the 2023 farming season in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) on Saturday in Abuja. The donated items include; 600 bags of fertilizers, agrochemicals, 20 wheelbarrows, nap sack sprayers, smoking kilns, hoes, cutlasses, rain boots, and hand gloves. Two motorcycles were given to two agriculture extension workers in the area council. Maikalangu said the items were meant to encourage farmers to boost their production and promote sales of farm produce in the council. He said that the area council had put in a deliberate policy direction that aims at improving the capacity of farmers and investing in the agriculture sector. Maikalangu also said that the donation was part of his campaign promises of improving the livelihoods of AMAC residents. “Agriculture is a panacea to social vices, therefore we should encourage our youth to engage themselves in agricultural activities because idleness is very dangerous. “Due to the urban renewal policy program of the FCT, most of our farmlands have been taken over by developers. Our farmers can no longer access farmlands for their subsistence farming and for other agricultural purposes. “This has greatly affected the growth of agriculture in the council which is one of the viable economic empowerment of our people. “I want to make a passionate appeal to FCTA on our need for integrated demonstration farmland in the council, this will help boost agricultural production in AMAC,” he said. He urged the beneficiaries to resist the temptation of selling the items given to them. Mr Musa John, a beneficiary, appreciated the chairman for the items adding that it would go a long way in boosting his agriculture output this year. “I want to appreciate the chairman for what he donated to us. I will ensure that I make use of these items judiciously,” he said.