Food security: Minister distributes inputs to Kaduna smallholder farmers
![Dr Mohammad Abubakarr](https://i0.wp.com/naturenews.africa/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Dr-Mohammad-Abubaka.jpg?fit=650%2C350&ssl=1)
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has launched the distribution of agricultural inputs to smallholder farmers in the country as part of the measures to avert food scarcity.
The Minister of Agriculture, Mohammed Abubakar, said at the ceremony in Kaduna on Friday that the rollout would open up investment opportunities in the sector.
Abubakar also said that the measure would help to create jobs and facilitate increased production as well as food and nutrition security in the country.
According to him, the distribution is a mitigation measure to boost agricultural production, avert food shortage and alliviate the sufferings of the smallholder farmers, occasioned by insecurity and COVID-19 pandemic on agricultural production in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inputs included a variety of seeds of different crops, certified seed yams, organic growth enhancer and various agricultural equipment and agrochemicals.
The minister said that 35 per cent of the inputs would go to women farmers to ensure increased opportunties for them.
He further said that 15 per cent of the inputs would also go to farmers with special needs.
He said that the percentage allocations were in line with the targets set in the National Gender Plan and Policies aimed at ensuring increased opportunities for women farmers and those with special needs.
He advised the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the inputs to produce food for the nation.
Abubakar also urged other stakeholders to provide similar support to smallholder farmers to encourage self-sufficiency in food production.
In an address, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, said that agricultural sector had become a major priority to stimulate local production of food to achieve self-sufficiency, attract investments, create jobs and enhance the livelihood of farming families.
El-Rufai said that the state government had attracted agricultural investment to the tune of over 2 billion U.S. dollars to ensure food security.
Represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Garba Husseini, the governor called on the beneficiaries not to sell the inputs.
He admonished them to utilise them to improve their production for food sufficiency in the country.
In a remark, Hannatu Sonni, the Chairman, Association of Small Scale Women Farmers, Kaduna chapter, commended the ministry for the gesture.
Sonni said that women had since been advocating for improved inputs to increase their crop yeild to feed the nation.
She said the initiative would stimulate local production of food by women to achieve self-sufficiency, enhance the livelihood of farming families.
She also said that the new improved seeds would improve yields, while the modern equipment would increase productivity with less fatigue.
She promised that the inputs would be properly utilised towards improving their livelihood and boosting production.
“Women work manually on farms but these equipment will save money and energy for them to take care of their families,” Sonni said.
(NAN)