As part of efforts to mitigate the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on Nigeria’s Agriculture sector, the Federal Government has distributed farm inputs to smallholder farmers in Kogi State.
Speaking at the ceremony, which marks the 4th badge of inputs distribution in Nigeria, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, said the move became necessary as the restriction of movement of people, goods and services have negatively impacted on food production, incomes and livelihood of the smallholder farmers who produce most of the food consumed in the country.
He said, supporting them with the much needed production inputs especially seeds would enhance food production, create employment and enable the farmers recover quickly from shocks of the Covid-19 pandemic to be more self-reliant while ensuring more sustainable and resilient food system.
The Minister urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the inputs given to them and produce food for the country while he called on other stakeholders to provide similar support to farmers so that together Nigeria can defeat Covid-19 pandemic and become self -sufficient in food.
Some of the inputs distributed include different categories of 38,142kg of improved cashew seeds to 3,798 farmers, 27,000kg of certified sesame seeds to 5,400 sesame farmers,
50,000kg of soybeans seeds to soybeans farmers, 12,000 bundles of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato, OFSP for 1,200 farmers, 15,000 sachets of redforce, 3,000 sachets of glory crop protection, 580 litres of soil amender and 500 litres of organic fertiliser to potato farmers.
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The seeds were given to the beneficiaries free of charge while other inputs are given at 75% subsidy. The ministry also distributed over 18,000kg of organic insecticides to farmers to combat Fall Army Worm infestation in Maize.
The Ministry had distributed farm inputs to farmers in Kano State, which was the 1st badge of the post Covid-19 food production intervention. Kaduna State was included in the second badge, and the 3rd exercise was conducted in Ibadan.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
