The Federal Government has distributed agricultural inputs and equipment to smallholder farmers in Bauchi State as part of renewed efforts to boost food production and ensure national food security.

The initiative, implemented through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMFS), aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises agricultural reform and food sufficiency.

Speaking at the official flag-off ceremony in Bauchi, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, represented by Mr Kizito Gukas, Director-General, Services, said the intervention demonstrates the government’s commitment to transforming the agricultural sector.

“Food security remains a national priority. Since the declaration of a state of emergency on food security in July 2023, we have intensified reforms and short-term measures to make essential inputs affordable and accessible to farmers,” Kyari said.

The distributed items include herbicides, organic fertilisers, insecticides, fungicides, knapsack sprayers, growth enhancers, tomato seeds, power tillers, and water pumps. 

According to the ministry, the materials will be channelled through 25 commodity associations, cooperatives, farmers with special needs, and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Kyari noted that the support targets smallholder farmers constrained by farm inputs’ high cost. 

He added that the intervention would contribute to economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction, aligning with the government’s vision of achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Iliyasu Gital, commended the Federal Government for its continued support to Bauchi farmers. He emphasised that the state government also prioritises agriculture as a driver of food security and rural development.

Similarly, the State Coordinator of the FMFS, Hajiya Khadijatu Ishaku, urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the farm inputs, stressing that Nigeria could achieve its food security objectives through proper utilisation.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Malam Lawan Musa, Chairman of the Dangulbi Farmers Cooperative Association, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and described the initiative as timely and impactful.

He appealed for sustained support to smallholder farmers nationwide to strengthen agricultural productivity and secure Nigeria’s food future.

Source: News Diary