The distribution ceremony, inaugurated by Governor Umaru Bago in Minna, is part of the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Result Area 2 initiative, which is a collaborative effort between the World Bank and the federal government aimed at aiding communities, households, and businesses impacted by the pandemic.
Explaining the scope of the intervention, Governor Bago highlighted that the 640 farmers would receive input support for various agricultural value chains, including rice, maize, sorghum, aquaculture, and broiler farming.
He detailed the specific items each farmer would receive, emphasizing the importance of these inputs in boosting agricultural productivity and resilience.
The distributed inputs encompassed a range of essential components for farming. Notably, the farmers were provided with 78 metric tonnes of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) and Urea fertilizers.
Additionally, each beneficiary was to receive two bags of 50-kilogram NPK fertilizers and one bag of Urea fertilizer.
The initiative also included the distribution of 4.75 metric tonnes of rice, maize, and sorghum seeds, 1,040 liters of herbicides, 520 liters of insecticides, 4,000-day old chicks, 8,000 fingerlings, and 15 metric tonnes of feed.
Governor Bago underscored the objectives of the NG-CARES agricultural support, focusing on mitigating the pandemic's impact on farmers, enhancing their resilience, and facilitating the revival of food supply chains in the post-COVID recovery phase.
He further pledged to fulfill the outstanding balance of N400 million as a counterpart fund for the Agro-Climatic Resilience Semi-Arid Landscape (AGReSAL) project.
The NG-CARES intervention received praise from Yakubu Bello, the permanent secretary of the ministry of agriculture and rural development, who highlighted its focus on safeguarding the livelihoods and food security of the vulnerable.
Abdulhamid Umar, the national coordinator of AGReSAL, elaborated on the larger context of the project, describing it as a significant $700 million investment across 19 northern states, including Abuja.
The AGReSAL project aims to address the substantial challenges posed by climate change in the northern regions of the country, particularly desertification and droughts.
This agricultural initiative demonstrates the Niger State government's commitment to ensuring food security, enhancing agricultural resilience, and supporting farmers in the face of ongoing challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.
The distribution of inputs will undoubtedly play a vital role in revitalizing the agricultural sector and sustaining rural livelihoods.