The Federal Government has commenced the distribution of agricultural inputs to more than 10,000 farmers in Kogi State as part of ongoing efforts to boost agricultural productivity and strengthen national food security across the country.
The distribution exercise was flagged off on Wednesday at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) office in Lokoja by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who said the initiative forms part of the Federal Government’s broader intervention programmes aimed at improving food production and supporting farmers nationwide.
Senator Kyari explained that the inputs being distributed include power tillers, herbicides, liquid fertilisers, knapsack sprayers, water pumps, and other essential farm equipment, with the total value estimated to run into several billions of naira. He said the support was designed to reduce production costs for farmers and enhance their capacity to cultivate more land efficiently.
In a welcome address, the Kogi State Coordinator of FMAFS, Mrs Subair A. S., expressed appreciation to the Honourable Minister and the Federal Government for selecting Kogi State as one of the beneficiaries of the intervention. She said the programme reflected the ministry’s commitment to supporting farmers at the grassroots and strengthening agricultural productivity in the state.
Mrs Subair noted that the distribution exercise was carefully coordinated to ensure transparency, equity, and accountability. She assured stakeholders that only genuine farmers across recognised cooperative societies would benefit from the programme. She also encouraged beneficiaries to make effective use of the inputs to enhance yields, improve livelihoods, and contribute to food sufficiency within the state.
Senator Kyari further stated that farmers in Abia, Anambra, Cross River, Imo, Kwara, Rivers, and Yobe states would also benefit from the programme. According to him, the intervention would reach farmers through recognised commodity associations, cooperative societies, farmers with special needs, and internally displaced persons in the selected states.
The Minister was represented at the event by the Deputy Director, Monitoring and Evaluation at FMAFS, Alhaji Abdulmalik Abdul-Ganiyu. He said the intervention was designed to ensure the timely, transparent, and accountable distribution of affordable agricultural inputs to farmers across the country.
Alhaji Abdul-Ganiyu added that the ministry had adopted short-term implementation strategies and support mechanisms to address the challenges faced by small-scale farmers, particularly the rising cost of essential farm inputs. He explained that the objective was to improve farmers’ access to agro-inputs and basic farm machinery needed for effective production.
He noted that the intervention is expected to contribute to increased agricultural productivity, support national food security objectives, advance the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the goal of zero hunger, and help mitigate prevailing food challenges in the country.
Beneficiaries were advised to utilise the inputs strictly for agricultural purposes in order to achieve improved yields and increase overall food supply. The ministry stressed that proper use of the equipment and materials would ensure the intended impact of the intervention.
In his remarks, the Kogi State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Timothy Ojomah, described the distribution as an inclusive intervention that cuts across all registered agricultural cooperative societies in the state. He said the programme was targeted at supporting dry-season farming activities.
Mr Ojomah assured farmers of the government’s continued commitment to improving food production outcomes and commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritising agricultural development as a key component of national economic growth and stability.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), Dr George Ogirima, said the intervention would strengthen agricultural activities at the grassroots level across Kogi State. He explained that ADP extension officers would monitor the utilisation of the inputs.
Dr Ogirima added that extension officers would provide technical guidance to farmers to ensure effective application, adherence to best agronomic practices, and optimal results from the intervention.
The Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kogi State Chapter, Mr Saliu Adobanyi, expressed appreciation to the Federal and State Governments for their continued support to farmers. He encouraged beneficiaries to deploy the inputs promptly to their farms to maximise benefits.
On behalf of the beneficiaries, the Chairperson of the Nigeria Women in Agriculture Cooperative Federation Limited, Mrs Esther Audu, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, for the intervention, describing it as timely and supportive of farmers’ efforts to increase agricultural production.
