COVID – 19: FG launches Distribution of Agricultural Outputs to Avert Food Scarcity

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono has flagged-off the distribution of agricultural inputs to Nigerian farmers as mitigation measures of the pandemic to boost Agricultural  production in the country and avert food scarcity in 2021.The inputs to the smallholders farmers include various varieties of seeds of rice, maize wheat and palm seedlings.

Speaking during the Flag – off ceremony at the Livestock House in Mando, Kaduna State, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono  noted  that the Federal Government through the Ministry would  continue  to support  the Smallholders farmers  with  relevant inputs  through  Associations and  cooperatives to  ” ensure that  the country does not experience food shortages  as a result of the Pandemic.

The Minister pointed out that ‘’  rice farmers through the  Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria will receive support worth about  270Metric Tonnes (MT) and 300 Metric Tonnes (MT)  each of certified seeds of FARO 66 and 300MT of foundation seeds of flood tolerant rice varieties of FARO 66 and FARO 67 respectively.

He further said that ‘’ the Ministry is also distributing 26MT of certified wheat seeds to wheat farmers, 1350 maize production kits and 18,517Kg of Aflasafe to ensure that the maize produced is aflatoxin-free’’.

Nanono stressed that ‘’ the  associationS is expected to distribute the seeds to their members nationwide for the 2020 cropping season. It is also giving out 20MT of breeder seeds of the same varieties to fourteen (14) selected Seed Companies that have the capacity to produce foundation seed’’.

He stated that ‘’ the Ministry is also distributing 66,000 sprouted nuts of oilo farmers in Kogi, Nasarawa, and Kaduna states. These seeds are free of charge to the beneficiaries while other farm inputs like water pumps , irrigation kits, seed planter among others would be given out at 75% subsidy’’.

He emphasised that  “In our input distribution efforts, at least 35% of the inputs are targeted at women farmers in line with the targets set in our National Gender Plan and Policies aimed at ensuring increased opportunities for women.   This has been communicated to the Farmer Associations accordingly”.

Nanono also said that ” It should be noted that this is the second in the series of the distribution of the Ministry’s palliatives to farmers nationwide.  Last week in Kano, we collaborated with development partners led by International Crops Research  Institute for Semi Arid  Tropics  (ICRISAT), to flag-off the distribution of sorghum, millet, cowpea and rice to 8,200 farmers from 13 States”.

 To this end, the Minister said that there will be another major roll-out of support to farmers in Oyo State on the 11th of June, 2020, improved seeds and seedlings of yam, maize, oil palm, cocoa, and Kenaf among others would be distributed to farmers at the event.

He  urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of these inputs to produce food for the nation while calling on other stakeholders to provide similar support to farmers so that together we can defeat COVID-19 Pandemic.

In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El- Rufai appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari led Administration policies in the Agricultural sector from 2015 to date ” Mr. President is a leader, who saw tomorrow and  with his policies in the Agric sector would enable  our country achieve food security and boost economic growth “.

Mallam El- Rufai stressed that the Agricultural Mechanization and improved extension services are  vital towards improving the Agricultural sector and would encourage investors and other relevant stakeholders.

Giving his Goodwill Message, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senator (Dr.), Abdullahi Adamu  pointed out that there is need to create more awareness about the Federal Government policies in the Agricultural sector and he also expressed the importance of manpower training for the extension services workers with latest innovation towards boosting Agricultural production.

In his Vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Abdulkadir Mua’zu noted that ‘’the lockdown has taken a negative toll on our food production and part of the strategy adopted by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is to reverse this trend and ensure the availability of quality seeds and other inputs for farmers so that they continue their farming activities without disruption so as to guarantee food security’’.

Dr. Mua’zu pointed out that COVID -19 Pandemic has further established that the President Muhammad Buhari’s administration commitment to Nigeria, being self-sufficient in food production, was the right step to be taken.

Some of the beneficiaries of the Agricultural inputs are the Rice farmers Association, Cowpea Farmers Association, women  and youth farmers association, among others in Kaduna State.

Ezeaja Ikemefuna

For: Director, Information (FMARD)