FG boosts Bauchi farmers with vital inputs to enhance food production

The Federal Government has distributed agricultural inputs and equipment to smallholder farmers in Bauchi State as part of efforts to enhance food production and ensure national food security.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony on Friday in Bauchi, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, said the intervention aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Kyari, represented by Mr. Kizito Gukas, Director General, Services in the Ministry, recalled that the administration declared a state of emergency on food security in July 2023, adding that reforms and short-term interventions are ongoing to make farm inputs affordable and accessible.

He listed the items distributed to include herbicides, organic fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, knapsack sprayers, growth enhancers, tomato seeds, power tillers, and water pumps. The inputs will be allocated through 25 commodity associations, cooperatives, farmers with special needs, and internally displaced persons.

“The intervention is designed to support smallholder farmers struggling with the high cost of inputs, while also contributing to economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction. Our resolve is to transform the agricultural sector, improve productivity, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger,” Kyari said.

Bauchi State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Iliyasu Gital, commended the Federal Government for the initiative, noting that the state also prioritises agriculture as a key driver of food security.

Earlier, the state Coordinator of the FMFS, Hajiya Khadijatu Ishaku, urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the items to ensure the objectives of the programme are realised.

Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Malam Lawan Musa, Chairman of the Dangulbi Farmers Cooperative Association, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, describing the intervention as timely and crucial to boosting food production. He also appealed for sustained support to local farmers.