To boost food production in the country, the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has distributed free agricultural inputs to farmers in Abia, Kebbi, and Yobe state.
The distribution is coming on the backdrop of the commencement of the cropping season in some localities and also part of efforts by the government to achieve self-sufficiency in food production in the country and to also support farmers across the country to maximise crop cultivation to improve crop yield.
The beneficiaries drawn from nominees from the state governments, and members of farmers’ associations among others received a NALDA-branded bag containing high-grade fertilizer, herbicides, and improved maize seeds for Abia and Yobe states while those in Kebbi state received improved rice seeds that can effectively cover half a hectare of farmland.
The Executive Secretary of NALDA Paul Ikonne while speaking at the NALDA Institute of Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship, IsiAla Okpu community in Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State, stated that the government has provided them with farm inputs so that they can produce what they eat
Ikonne assured the farmers that NALDA will continue to support them with agricultural inputs regularly, as the contact details of all the beneficiaries have been captured in the agency’s database for follow-up assistance and more farmers will be added to the list from time to time.
He said “The essence of what we’re doing here today is to ensure Nigerians understand the importance of farming, make sure we produce what we eat and to reduce the price of food in the market… we are expecting nothing less than 340 hectares to be cultivated by this farmers”
A beneficiary, Azeezat Jimoh who is the women Leader of Yoruba community and Muslim women in Abia state appreciated NALDA and the government for including a member of her community in the distribution exercise, assuming that they will put in the needed effort to produce more foods
The NALDA administrator in Kebbi State, Mr. Bashar Bunza, who led the team, disclosed that some of the inputs distributed to the farmers include bags containing high yielding rice seeds, fertilisers and herbicides would help farmers produce more food. He urged the beneficiaries not to sell the farm inputs but use it for what is meant for
The Chairman of the Ngaski Local Government Area of the state Manir Abubakar who participated in the distribution exercise appreciated NALDA for the kind gesture.
Habibu Aliyu who farms seven to eight hectares of rice annually in a response to the intervention by NALDA was a timely one as accessing fertiliser has been a daunting task, he promised to utilise it to the best of his abilities.
In Yobe State the NALDA team led by the Director of Finance Mr. Suleiman Lawal, distributed the inputs to beneficiaries in Gashua, Bade Local Government Area.
He revealed that the beneficiaries were drawn from six local government areas of the state namely Bade, Yusufari, Jakusko, Nguru, Karasuwa, and Machina .
The NALDA team lectured the beneficiaries on the content of the bags and how to apply them for maximum yield.
The NALDA empowerment programme is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to NALDA to reach out to farmers across the country to ensure they produce food while helping the country achieve food sufficiency.
It would be recalled that President Tinubu had declared a state of emergency on food hence the move by NALDA to compliment the President’s food security through empowerment programme to cushion the effect of high cost of living.
