The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Lagos State Chapter has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to provide free fertilisers to thousands of farmers across the country, describing the initiative as a major relief amid increasing production expenses.
The Acting Chairman of AFAN in Lagos State, Sakin Agbayewa, said the support would strengthen agricultural activities and improve food output by reducing the financial burden on farmers.
According to him, the programme is being implemented through the Nigeria Agricultural Development Fund and covers 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory. He disclosed that each beneficiary state is expected to have about 3,040 farmers receive four bags of fertiliser each.
Agbayewa noted that the distribution process is being coordinated through AFAN under the leadership of the association’s National President, Farouk Mudi, to ensure that only genuine farmers benefit from the scheme.
He explained that details of the exercise were presented during a recent national meeting of the association, where arrangements for the nationwide rollout were finalised.
The AFAN official stated that distribution activities in the North Central zone are scheduled to commence in Niger State, while farmers in the South West zone will begin receiving their allocations during events planned for Ado Ekiti later in the week. The national launch is expected to take place in Abuja on Saturday.
He added that the fertilisers are currently being kept in storage facilities managed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security pending handover to state chapters.
Agbayewa said the intervention comes at a critical period when the prices of farming inputs have risen sharply, making cultivation more expensive for many producers.
He estimated that the four bags allocated to each farmer are worth between N180,000 and N200,000, stressing that the free supply would significantly cut production expenses and improve profitability.
According to him, lower production costs could eventually reflect in the prices of agricultural commodities, making food more affordable for consumers.
He commended the Federal Government for responding to concerns raised by farmers and expressed optimism that the initiative would contribute to improved food security across the country.
States listed to benefit from the programme include Gombe, Taraba, Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kaduna, Kwara, Niger, Benue, Nasarawa, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Lagos, Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Delta and Cross River, alongside the Federal Capital Territory.
