Our reporter The Federal Government says 1,000 farmers in Lagos and Nasarawa states have received farm inputs to boost food production in the states. In a statement by the National Agricultural Land Development Authority in Abuja, it was noted that the move was in line with ongoing efforts to ensure the availability of staple foods for Nigerians, adding that it would assist farmers across the country to maximise crop cultivation for improved yields and production. According to NALDA, accredited beneficiaries of the empowerment programme received a branded bag containing maize and bean seeds, herbicides, fungicides, pesticides and fertilisers.
The agency stated, “Each pack if properly planted and properly maintained till harvest, can yield up to six tonnes of produce for each farmer.” The inputs, NALDA stated, were distributed with each state’s area of agricultural specialisation in view, while the biometrics of beneficiaries were captured on their farms to get a comprehensive database of farmers and ensure that only genuine farmers benefit. The agency said, “In Lagos State, 500 beneficiaries from Lagos East Senatorial District consisting of Epe, Ibeju/Lekki, Ikorodu, Agbowa, Imota and others got the empowerment package.
“For Nasarawa, 500 farmers drawn from all over the state benefited from the distribution exercise, which took place at the Emir’s palace in Lafia, the state capital.” The Executive Secretary, NALDA, Paul Ikone, represented by the agency’s Infor.
