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FG distributes free inputs to small holder farmers in Gombe

By Adelola Amihere

As part of measures to ensure food and nutrition security, create more jobs for teaming Nigerian youths as well as boost dry-season farming, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Mustapha Shehuri, has flagged-off the distribution of free Agricultural Inputs and quality seeds to smallholders farmers in Gombe State.

In a statement signed by the Chief Information Officer, Ikemefuna Ezeaja, on behalf of the Director of Information, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Minister while performing the exercise at the Ministry’s office complex in Gombe, Gombe State over the weekend, said that it is part of the mitigation measures against the effect of COVID-19 pandemic and the flood disaster that wreaked havoc on the farmlands.


He said that the Ministry would support breeder and foundation seed production and link up with the private seed companies to ensure that certified seeds are available to local farmers nationwide.


Shehuri stated that improved rural infrastructure and other value chain support would invariably contribute to the attainment of Mr. President’s desire towards ensuring easy access to quality food and nutrition for Nigerians.


He informed that ‘’ the ministry has supported Gombe state with subsidized inputs with over 350 3HP and 30 7HP irrigation pumps, multipurpose threshers, over 70 Motorized and dual powered sprayers amongst others. Under our world bank assisted nutrition Programme, we have provided multiple trainings and homestead farming input packages including tomato, pepper, pawpaw among others in 5 local government areas in the state as well as irrigation kits designed to improve the household nutrition.’’


According to the Minister, “the small holder farmers in the state will today receive the following free inputs; 10,000 Gum Arabic Seedlings, 15MT of rice seed, 2.5 MT groundnut foundation seeds, 1,000 KG of Castor seeds, 1,500 KG of cashew nuts as well as Ratkin and Liptol – organic insecticides to combat army worm infestation and Equipment like water pumps, maize threshers among others’’


He stated that ‘’so far, the ministry has performed similar exercise in Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kogi, Oyo, Cross River and Imo states, with this being the 8th edition, assisting small holders farmers with quality inputs to ensure sustainable food security, job creation and revenue generation to grow the nation’s economy.’’


The minister emphasized that ‘’in our input distribution efforts, at least 35% of these inputs are targeted at the women farmers, this is in line with the targets set in our national gender action plan and policies aimed at ensuring increased opportunities for women.’’


He also said that ‘’in order to alleviate the effect of flood on farmers, inputs were distributed to farmers in Jigawa, Kebbi, Nasarawa and Benue State.’’

Shehuri tasked 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 and become self- sufficient in food production.’’


The input distribution was kicked-off with two physically challenged people being the first beneficiaries to receive the packages from the Director Federal Department of Agriculture, Hajia Karima Babangida.


In his remarks, the Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammadu Yahaya appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari led government for the flag-off of the distribution of agricultural inputs and quality seeds to smallholder farmers in the state, stating that it would cushion the effect of COVID – 19 Pandemic, promote dry-season farming, boost production and generate income for the farmers and the state at large.

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