The Federal Government has commenced disbursement of agro inputs worth over N700million to farmers under the International Fund for Agricultural Development, supported Value Chain Development Programme IFAD/VCDP who were affected by flooding.
The National Programme Coordinator, IFAD Value Chain Development Programme, Dr Fatima Aliyu, stated this during the flag off of distribution of inputs and equipment for 2023 dry season farming in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.
Dr Fatima Aliyu said the disbursement of the agro inputs and equipment was a deliberate response by the federal government in collaboration with IFAD, to provide succor to farmers who suffered losses due to flooding.
The Coordinator represented by the Programme Secretary Value Chain Development Programme, Mr Safiriyu Alabi, explained that 1, 495 farmers from the nine participating states of Value Chain Development Programme were to benefit from the agro inputs to enable them produce rice during the dry season using irrigation system.
Some of the benefitting farmers, Mrs Grace Usman, Mr Akila Danlami and Mrs Rahab Ayuba said the gesture had encouraged them to return to farming.
Nasarawa State Commissioner for Agriculture and Water Resources, Mr Nuhu Oshafu, while commending the federal government for the gesture, promised that the state government would monitor closely to ensure that the items were not diverted.
Over 300 farmers mostly women from 23 farmer groups in Nasarawa State benefitted from the agro inputs which include water pumps, fertilizers, rice seeds and herbicides.
