By Ahmed Ahmed
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) in collaboration with the Ral Ministry of Budget and National Planning has empowered 250 farmers to boost agricultural production in Bauchi State.
Mr Temitope Fadeshima, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security stated this at the opening ceremony of a day training and distribution of farm inputs to 250 farmers on Thursday in Bauchi.
He said the collaboration of the two Federal Ministries was a conscious effort to reduce the spate of poverty across the country.
“The level of poverty in Nigeria is alarming. An estimated population of 88.4 million people in Nigeria is living in extreme poverty,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary, represented by Mr Daniel Abarshi, State Coordinator of the Ministry in Bauchi said the initiative is under the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS).
“Today marks a significant milestone in our collective commitment to uplifting the lives of our smallholder farmers and fostering sustainable agricultural practices.
“The NPRGS in collaboration with the Federal Department of Agricultural Extension Service (FDAE), has diligently enumerated and validated approximately 250 farmers for participation in this transformative program.
“These farmers are not just the backbone of our agricultural sector; they are the heartbeat that forms the heartbeat of our nation’s prosperity.
“The NPRGS reflects our government’s dedication to addressing poverty at its roots, emphasizing the pivotal role agriculture plays in economic growth and development,” Fadeshima said.
He explained that through initiatives of training and empowerment programs, we are sowing the seeds of positive change, ensuring that smallholder farmers have new sources, and support needed to thrive in an ever-evolving agricultural landscape.
This program is not merely an investment in agriculture; it is an investment in the future of our nation.
“As we equip these 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,” The Permanent Secretary said.
In a remark, the Director of the State Ministry of Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Salihu lauded the effort of Federal government empowerment programmes in the state.
He said the state benefits from the eral government’s several interventions, appreciating the FG for always considering the state
The Director however urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the knowledge acquired at the training and caution them against selling the inputs.
Our correspondent reports that the farmers were trained on crops, enterprises, fisheries and poultries,
The farm inputs distributed include a prayer, improved seeds of maize, rice, pepper, tomato herbicides, fish feeds, and 225-a-day-old broilers.