The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has empowered 31 farmers’ groups with modern farming inputs to boost food production and strengthen national food security.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this during the distribution of farm inputs to farmers’ groups in Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. He was represented at the event by the Director of Cooperatives in the ministry, Dr Mohammed Bashir Abdulkadir.
Kyari said the initiative forms part of the ministry’s mandate to provide continuous support to farmers in order to enhance agricultural productivity across the country.
He noted that smallholder farmers account for about 95 percent of the farming population and remain the backbone of food production in Nigeria.
According to him, sustained support through the provision of modern farm inputs will boost farmers’ morale and encourage bumper harvests, ensuring food availability for local consumption and export.
The State Coordinator of the ministry in Kebbi State, Dr Ari Mohammed Abdulrazak, said 31 farmers’ unions benefited from the intervention. He explained that the beneficiaries included women, youths and persons with special needs.
He stated that the initiative was designed to promote inclusive participation in agriculture and to support year-round farming activities.
Speaking at the event, the Secretaries of AFAN and KADAGE Women Farmers Associations, Bello Kalgo and Hajiya Fatima Abubakar, commended the Federal Government for the timely support. They said the intervention would encourage farmers to return to their farms after losses suffered in previous seasons.
The Emir of Argungu, represented by the Majidadi, Alhaji Samaila Yakubu, praised the efforts of President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Agriculture for initiating the programme. He described it as timely and capable of boosting agricultural production.
He urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the inputs to improve their livelihoods and contribute to food production and security in Kebbi State and across Nigeria. The exercise is themed “Inputs Distribution for All-Year-Round Farming.”
