The Federal Government on Friday announced that 1,000 farmers in Lagos and Nasarawa were given farm inputs to enhance food production in the states.
This was disclosed in a statement by National Agricultural Land Development Authority in Abuja, on Friday.
It said that it would assist farmers across the country in maximising crop cultivation for better yields and production, adding that such an initiative was consistent with ongoing efforts to ensure the availability of basic foodstuffs in Nigerians.
NALDA distributed the farm inputs, and accredited beneficiaries of the empowerment program received NALDA-branded bags containing maize and bean seeds, herbicides, fungicides, pesticides, and fertilisers.
NALDA is an agency of the Federal Government.
NALDA stated, “Each pack if properly planted and properly maintained till harvest, can yield up to six tonnes of produce for each farmer.”
According to NALDA, the inputs were distributed based on the major agricultural specialisation of each state, and the biometrics of beneficiaries were captured on their farms to get a comprehensive database of farmers and ensure that only genuine farmers benefit.
The agency said, “In Lagos State, 500 beneficiaries from Lagos East Senatorial District consisting of Epe, Ibeju/Lekki, Ikorodu, Agbowa, Imota and others got the empowerment package.”
The Executive Secretary of NALDA, Paul Ikone, represented by the agency’s Information, Communications, and Technology Director, Mr Chima Onuha, said this initiative was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda in agriculture development and food security.
A beneficiary, Owolabi Odulaja, commended NALDA for the initiative, adding, this would go a long way in alleviating poverty.
“This initiative will help the people to tackle poverty. We thank President Tinubu and NALDA for this great support during this challenging economic period,” he stated.
For Nasarawa State, the agency stated that “500 farmers drawn from all over the state benefited from the distribution exercise, which took place at the Emir’s palace in Lafia, the state capital.”
Speaking during the distribution exercise, the Emir of Lafia and Chairman of Nasarawa Council of Chiefs, Justice Sidi Muhammed (Rtd), commended the Federal Government for the initiative.
He said the gesture would go a long way in boosting the economy of the State while calling on beneficiaries to make use of this opportunity.
“If the Federal Government is saying that we are giving you this free without you dipping hands in your pockets to do it, then people must take advantage of it,” Muhammed stated.
