Sani Dutsinma
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has empowered thirty-one (31) farmers’ groups in Kebbi State with modern farming inputs to enhance food production and strengthen national food security.
The initiative was unveiled during a farm input distribution event in Arugungu Local Government Area, Kebbi State. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, represented by the Director of Cooperative Services, Dr Mohammed Bashir Abdulkadir, said the programme aligns with the ministry’s mandate to provide continuous support to farmers and promote year-round agricultural activities.
Tagged “Inputs Distribution for All-Year-Round Farming”, the intervention targets smallholder farmers, who constitute approximately 95 per cent of Nigeria’s farming population and remain the backbone of national food production. The minister urged farmers to utilize the provided equipment judiciously to improve productivity and achieve bumper harvests that could feed citizens and generate surplus for export.
Dr Ari Mohammed Abdulrazak, the State Coordinator of the ministry in Kebbi, disclosed that the beneficiaries include women, youth, and persons with special needs, highlighting the initiative’s inclusive approach to agriculture.
In separate remarks, Hajiya Fatima Abubakar, Secretary of the AFAN Bello and KADAGE Women Farmers Associations, praised the Federal Government’s timely support, emphasizing that it would encourage farmers to return to their farms following challenges in previous seasons.
The Emir of Arugungu, represented by the Majidadi, Alhaji Samaila Yakubu, commended the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Agriculture, describing the initiative as timely and crucial for boosting food production. He urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the inputs to enhance both their livelihoods and national food security.
The distributed farming supplements included liquid organic fertilizer, rice distillers, food dehydrators, maize threshers and equipment, knapsack sprayers, multi-purpose threshers, solar water pumps, and smoke liners—tools aimed at improving productivity and promoting sustainable agricultural practices across the state.
