2024 Farming Season: Shettima Launches Agric Scheme, Farmers Get Tractors, Fertilizers

By Our Reporter

Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has flagged off an empowerment scheme to assist farmers across the country as his contribution in support of the food security and agriculture mechanisation drive of the Federal Government.

The Scheme, Kashim Shettima Foundation’s Agricultural Empowerment Programme, launched in Kaduna State earlier in the week, heralds the beginning of distributing tractors , seeds, fertilizers, herbicides, sprayers, planters, pesticides, and other farming inputs to beneficiary farmers ahead of the forthcoming 2024 farming season.

Shettima described Nigerian farmers as “underappreciated heroes who till the soil, sow the seeds, and nourish our nation, to whom we owed a mountain of appreciation for putting the country first, come rain or sunshine,”

While speaking during the launch of the farmers’ empowerment programme in Kaduna, Vice President Shettima said the gesture was in honour of the nation’s resilient farmers.

He said the Tinubu’s administration is ready to take action that will unlock the nation’s agricultural potential and provide support to farmers.

Shettima emphasized the crucial role of agriculture in Nigeria’s economy, highlighted its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and its importance as the primary employer for millions of citizens.

”Agriculture has always been a strong pillar of Nigeria’s economy, contributing one out of every five US Dollars to our GDP and providing livelihoods and sustenance for 36% of the labour force,” the Vice President noted.

However, Vice President Shettima outlined challenges confronting agricultural sector in the country such as lack of access to finance, input shortages, conflicts, including outdated practices which he emphasized on as the key factor responsible for low productivity.

In spite of all these, he recognised Kaduna State’s agricultural potential. He emphasized on the need for intervention to boost productivity and empower farmers in the country.

He explained that the Shettima Foundation’s Agricultural Empowerment Programme aims at giving support in Kaduna by providing farming inputs, technical guidance, and financial empowerment.

Vice President Shettima pledged to cultivate 500 hectares of land through the programme and provide financial support to beneficiaries and farmer cooperatives to establish commercial farms.

”Through this initiative, I commit to supporting the cultivation of 500 hectres of land in Kaduna. Financial empowerment will also be provided to the tune of N100,000 per month to each of the 50 beneficiaries for four months, which covers the planting period,” he said.

In his reaction to the programme, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State expressed gratitude to the Vice President for honouring the state to pilot the project.

Governor Sani, who was represented at the occasion by his deputy, Hadiza Balarabe, identified with the initiative and promised all it require to support its implementation.