As part of efforts to revamp the agricultural sector and support farmers, the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has said through the FADAMA III programme, over 100,000 farmers will be empowered with necessary equipment and seeds over the next four years.
Lawal made the commitment known on Wednesday as he flagged off the Nigeria Coronavirus Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus programme with the distribution of farm input and agricultural assets.
The ceremony was held at the state Ministry of Agriculture as it featured the flag-off of the FADAMA III project, targeting beneficiaries from the 14 local government areas of the state.
A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris explained that “Through the FADAMA III programme, 100,000 farmers will be empowered with the necessary equipment and seeds over the next four years.
“As you are aware, the COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme is a multi-sectoral programme centred around three critical result areas and is designed to address specific challenges and harness opportunities on our path towards a robust post-pandemic recovery.
“Under FADAMA 111, the result area focus is on increasing food security and ensuring the safe functioning of food supply chains for our vulnerable households.
“Coming shortly after the signing of our 2024 ‘Rescue Budget’ into Law, it testifies to our resolve to take the required steps towards realising our targets in the agricultural sector which is the most vital sector of the economy of our dear state.”
However, the governor also restated his administration’s dedication to providing social interventions for the less-privileged and vulnerable individuals in the state.
“In this third cycle, our key objective is to improve the productivity of 11,760 farmers directly by providing them with vital input such as fertilisers, herbicides, insecticides, improved seeds, and seed dressing chemicals.
“For the upcoming dry season, we have allocated 33,000 bags of fertiliser comprising 22,000 bags of NPK and 11,000 bags of Urea,” he said.
The governor noted that over 700 power tillers and seeds for rice and maize will be distributed to 19,000 farmers.
“Also, over 700 power tillers and seeds for rice and maize will be distributed to 19,000 farmers.
“Furthermore, 735 groups of 10 farmers each will be empowered with power tillers and 2,550 individuals will receive small ruminant animals,” the statement added.
He noted that the government would continue to provide essential input support and services, construct and rehabilitate access roads and allocate assets for production and mitigating food loss and waste.