The Federal Government has commenced the distribution of farm inputs to 60,000 farmers in five states – Kano, Jigawa, Kebbi, Niger and Sokoto.

The inputs, made available at subsidised costs, also come with a stern warning to beneficiaries against round tripping.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development(FMARD), Dr Ernest Afolabi, who unveiled the distribution at Bunkure Local Council of Kano State, hinted that the exercise is coming under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme.
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Represented by Director, Planning and Policy Coordination, Malam Tanimu Ibrahim, the permanent secretary warned that any farmer caught in the act would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

He said government is committed to paying 80 per cent of the total cost of the input package, while each participating farmer is expected to pay the 20 per cent balance for the redemption of their inputs.

According to him, “The ceremony marks the commencement of this year’s delivery of subsidised inputs to about 60,000 farmers in the participating states. The event is very important for us as a ministry because we recognise that the drive for increased agricultural production cannot be attained without a guaranteed access to quality agricultural inputs such as fertilisers, seeds, pesticides, whose distribution in the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme-Phase one (ATASP-1) Project is being launched.

“Notably, the programme is targeted at supporting 60,000 farmers in the five ATASP-15 states with highly subsidised inputs to help increase their production level and achieve economic well-being, while also contributing substantially to the national agricultural product output.

“I, therefore, wish to enjoin the benefitting farmers to ensure full utilisation of the inputs in their various farms in order to increase their farm output, which will translate into increased farm income.”

Earlier, the National Programme Coordinator of ATASP -1, Mr Muhammad Arabi said the essence of the programme was to ensure attainment of food and nutrition security, contribute to employment generation and wealth creation of the targeted beneficiaries along rice, sorghum and cassava value chains on sustainable basis.

Arabi further said the programme was also to attract private sector investments in agriculture, reduce post-harvest losses, add value to local agricultural produce, develop rural infrastructure and enhance access of farmers and other value chain actors to financial services and markets.

On his part, the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, applauded the Federal Government for the initiatives, adding it is creating avenue for farmers to access loans from reliable creditors.
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