The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) has trained and distributed farm inputs to 250 smallholder farmers in Kaduna State to boost food production.
Mr Temitope Fadeshemi, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, made this known on Wednesday at the training and empowerment programme in Kaduna.
The training was part of the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy across the nation.
Represented by Bashir Abdulkadir, Director, Department of Extension Services, he said the programme was part of government’s dedication to addressing poverty at its grassroots.
Fadashemi said, “The National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) reflects our government’s dedication to addressing poverty at its roots, emphasizing the pivotal role agriculture plays in economic growth and development.
“This programme is not merely an investment in agriculture, it is an investment in the future of our nation.
“As we equip farmers with the tools to enhance productivity, improve resilience, and embrace sustainable practices, we are laying the foundation for a more resilient and prosperous agricultural sector.”
He urged the farmers to embrace the opportunity to build a future where smallholder farmers are not just beneficiaries of progress but active contributors to the nation’s growth.
The permanent secretary charged them to absorb the knowledge, hone their skills and apply the insights gained to elevate their farms and communities.
Dr Timkat Nanfa, the State Coordinator of the ministry expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for counting the state worthy to be part of the beneficiaries of the programme.
He urged the participants to make good use of the empowerment, saying inputs will help them in their farm operations and also fight poverty.
He listed the items as; 175 bags of organic fertilizers, 175 sprayers, 65 bags of maize seeds bags and 71 bags of rice seeds.
Others were: 14 tins of tomato seeds, 14 tins of pepper seeds, Okra seeds tins, 1,000 poultry chicks, 40 bags of poultry feeds and 50 bags of fish feeds, among others. (NAN)
By Ezra Musa
