December 19, (THEWILL) – The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has provided agricultural inputs to 6,000 wheat farmers in Kano State as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to enhance food security across the country.
The intervention, which targets smallholder, medium, and large-scale farmers, saw each farmer receive three bags of fertilizer and a 50-kilogram bag of wheat seeds. The distribution was conducted across 12 designated cluster centres in the state.
The programme was officially launched on Thursday at Alkamawa in Bunkure Local Government Area.
Speaking during the launch, the State Coordinator for the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Isa Isiyaku Hotoro, described the initiative as a special intervention designed to boost wheat farmers’ productivity and enhance the nation’s food supply.
“The programme is aimed at capturing smallholder, medium, and large-scale farmers in wheat production to increase productivity and contribute to the nation’s food basket,” Hotoro said.
He noted that the initiative would cover 3,000 hectares of farmland in 12 clusters, including Alkamawa in Bunkure, as well as Ajingi, Gaya, and Garko local government areas.
Farmers participating in the programme received the inputs at a subsidized rate of 75%, with beneficiaries paying 25% of the total cost, amounting to **N111,000** per package.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Gaya Emirate Farmers Association, Alhaji Yakubu Ibrahim, lauded the Federal Government for the intervention, stating that it would revive wheat production in the region.
“Before this support, many of us had reduced production due to the high cost of fuel and fertilizers. With this intervention, we can now resume normal wheat farming activities,” Ibrahim said.
The initiative is part of broader government efforts to ensure sustainable agricultural practices and mitigate the challenges faced by farmers, particularly in the wake of rising production costs.
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
