By Melvin Onwubuke
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Partnership with Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, have equipped about 250 vulnerable, smallholder farmers in the FCT, Abuja with Agricultural inputs to enhance productivity, coupled with achieving food with nutrition security.
This was disclosed during the training and empowerment of verified and validated farmers at the Agricultural Development Program, Gwagwalada, Abuja by Mr Temitope Fadeshmi, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, according to Thisday.
In the statement, Mr. Fadeshemi, said that the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy in collaboration with the Federal Department of Agric Extensive has ardently calculated and validated about 250 farmers in this transformative program.
Fadeshemi, represented by the Director, Dept. Of Agricultural Services, Mr. Michael Brooks, noted that the idea was to equip smallholder farmers, enhance production while also achieving food and nutrition security.
He emphasized that the farmers are not just the pillar of the agric sector, but also the heartbeat of national prosperity, thus, placed as top priority under the the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda of the president.
According to him “Through initiatives like trainings and empowerment programs, the ministry is sowing the seeds of positive change in its bid to ensuring that smallholder farmers, have the knowledge, resources and support, to thrive in an ever-evolving agricultural landscape.”
“As we equip these farmers with the tools to enhance productivity, improve resilience, and embrace sustainable practices, we are laying the foundation for a more resilient and prosperous agricultural sector,’’ he added
Mrs. Lydia Oke, of the beneficiaries, expressed her gratitude at the consideration and aid given to smallholder farmers while promising prudent use of the inputs.
