The Kogi State Government has distributed no fewer than 103,200 bags of fertilizers, valued at ₦3.2 billion, free of charge to 30,000 farmers across the state, as part of its efforts to boost massive food production and ensure food security.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Timothy Ojomah, disclosed this in an interview with the Newsmen on Thursday in Lokoja, noting that the distribution comprised 51,600 bags of Urea and 51,600 bags of NPK fertilizers, which were allocated to three clusters representing the state’s senatorial districts.
Ojomah revealed that the state government had earlier distributed 2,000 hectares of land to farmers in preparation for the 2025 wet season farming.
He said each cluster received 17,200 bags of Urea fertilizer, benefiting farmers across the 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi State.
“This product, valued at ₦3.2 billion, is part of Governor Ahmed Ododo’s deliberate support for massive food production and security in Kogi. The governor is aware of how costly fertilizers are in the markets and decided to support our farmers this season for a bumper harvest,” he stated.
The commissioner noted that the beneficiaries were carefully selected through an enumeration and verification process conducted in 2024 to identify genuine farmers through their commodity associations or cooperatives.
According to him, the initiative aims to enhance the productivity of key value chain crops such as rice, maize, and cassava under the state government’s agricultural development agenda.
Ojomah added that the state has invested in training and retraining farmers, alongside deploying extension workers who are providing technical guidance and monitoring fertilizer application across farming communities to ensure optimal use.
He urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the fertilizers to improve their farming operations and uplift the living standards of their families and communities.
The 2025 wet season in Nigeria is expected to commence between late March and early May, depending on the region, with Kogi State typically experiencing rainfall from mid-April.
The season will focus on cultivating key staple crops—rice, maize, and cassava to strengthen local food security and drive economic growth.
Early forecasts from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) suggest the 2025 wet season may bring slightly above-average rainfall, which, if properly managed, could further enhance agricultural productivity across the state.
