FG distributes cowpeas starter packs to farmers, extension agents in Kaduna

The Federal Government has distributed cowpea starter packs (inputs) to farmers and extension agents in Kaduna.

Speaking during the distribution on Sunday in Kaduna, Mrs Dorathy Botar of the Department of Agricultural Extension Services in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the gesture by the federal government was to encourage farmers and extension agents towards mass cultivation of cowpeas.

Botar who supervised the distribution, noted that it is currently the period for planting cowpea and that it was why the Federal Government gave out the inputs as emergency empowerment.

She also said the inputs distributed were emergency empowerment of the farmers and extension agents which is simultaneously carried out across the Northwest, Northeast and North Central region.

Botar explained that the period for planting many crops has gone because of the rainy season which is gradually coming to an end, adding that it is the right time for planting cowpea.

“Cowpeas are planted in July and first week of September, so it is a good timing, 38 beneficiaries will be given the starter packs including extension agents and the farmers.

“The present leadership of the ministry is interested in improving farming, so the farmers should get ready because many of such programmes will be coming your way,”she said.

Botar urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the inputs, noting that sometimes they sell them, while assuring them of more benefit when they make use of it.

“The farmers and extension agents are already given the fertilizer and herbicides, making it a pre and post inputs, therefore nothing should make them sell them, all they need do is cultivate and make use of it.

“Doing so will reduce poverty and ensure food security,”she said.

Similarly, the State Coordinator of ministry, Dr Timkat Nanfa, said that farming without inputs is a waste of time and resources.

Describing agricultural inputs as the pillar of farming, he said they boost production which would translate to better yield and harvest.

According to the coordinator, the state of cowpea farming in Kaduna is discouraging, noting that with the inputs, farmers would have increased yield.

Also, the General manager of the Kaduna State Agricultural Development Agency (KADA) Mr Muhammad Rili, said they identified the beneficiary to be smallholder farmers.