The National Project Coordinator for the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), Mr. Ishaku Buba, has explained that selected farmers across 15 wheat producing states were empowered with free wheat seeds alongside other inputs at 50% subsidy for fertilizers and agrochemicals by the federal government to aid dry season farming.
Speaking during the NAGS stakeholders retreat on Thursday, the coordinator said recommended agricultural input packages provided to the participating farmers were divided into two options.
He said: “The certified seedlings both imported and locally sourced were distributed to the targeted participating farmers free of charge.
“Each farmer got 100kg alongside other inputs such as fertilizers, agro chemicals. And these other inputs were given at 50% subsidy support by the federal government.
“However the NAGS-AP has put into consideration the 2023/24 dry season for the various crop value chains: wheat 123,000, rice 150,000, maize 30,000, cassava 20,000.”
According to him, the agricultural inputs distributed to the farmers under the program were done through the use of ICT delivery platforms and three service providers were engaged for the purpose of ensuring transparency, accountability, easy tracking and assessment of performances or impacts.
Based on the options given, the farmers were to pay 50% cost of input package at either 180,500 or 181,000 for the 2023/24 dry season wheat farming, he added.
