The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to food security, economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction during an event held in Asaba.
Represented by Dr Perpetua Iyere-Usiahon, Senator Kyari said the distribution of farm inputs was part of the Federal Government’s efforts to encourage and support farmers in achieving food sufficiency across Nigeria. He stated that “the initiative is a clear demonstration of government’s determination to ensure that farmers are well-equipped to produce more food and contribute to national development.”
Farm inputs distributed to cooperative groups, women associations, and farmers with special needs included knapsack sprayers, motorized sprayers, organic fertilizers, cocoa fungicides, and hammer mills under the second phase of the programme.
Kyari explained that small-scale farmers were prioritized due to the high cost of essential agricultural inputs, adding that the ministry is working on short-term plans to make such materials more affordable and accessible to all farmers.
The Delta State Coordinator of the ministry, Mr Kazeem Abdul Azeez, said the initiative would help boost yield, reduce post-harvest losses, and improve farmers’ income. He urged beneficiaries to use the items responsibly to enhance food production.
Beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, while Delta State representative, Dr Edmund Orioko, pledged continued collaboration to promote food sufficiency and strengthen agricultural productivity across the state.