Governor Peter Mbah has distributed inputs and grants valued at N4.6bn to farmers and communities, saying, “It’s imperative to nurture small-scale entrepreneurs for sustainable growth.”
12,000 small-holder farmers received fertilizers, while 51 power tillers worth N2 million each were given to farmers. Mbah also flagged off the distribution of agricultural inputs to 1,251 beneficiaries.
The governor said, “We’re carrying out an extensive revamp of rural roads to facilitate a better road network and ensure farming clusters aren’t isolated units.”
Mbah also launched an entrepreneurship intervention program worth N1 billion, with women-owned enterprises getting 80% of the sum.
“We recognize that much of the brunt of poverty is borne by women,” he explained.
The state is also waging war against open defecation, launching a water provision and sanitation-enhancing initiative worth N15 million across 135 communities.
Commissioner Patrick Ubru urged beneficiaries to reciprocate government support through prudent application of inputs and grants. Romanus Eze, AFAN chairman, assured the governor that farmers would not disappoint the state government.