The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has strengthened the capacity of smallholder farmers in Edo State with the distribution of 28,200 quality seeds , chemicals, and other assorted equipment to enhance economic growth and job creation in the post-COVID-19 era.
The Permanent Secretary, FMARD, Dr Ernest Umakhihe, during the flagging off of the distribution of free ‘Agricultural Inputs and Quality Seeds Intervention’ for smallholder farmers in Edo State, expressed optimism that the distribution will enhance food security.
The quality seeds distributed to the farmers include; 3000 oil palm seedlings; 20,000 cocoa seedlings; 5,000 coconut seedlings; 200 yam seeds, and others.
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Agricultural equipment distributed included; 20 Food Dehydrator; 50 Motorised oil palm; 5 Cashew crackers; 3 HP Water Pump 100, 625 Knapsack Sprayers; 1,000 litres of Cypermtetnine; 400 litres of Agrixyme; 1,239 litres of Glyphosate; 960 litres of Pathway ( liquid); 5 power tiller; and 200 honey bee clothing.
Umakhihe tasked the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the inputs to produce food for the nation to become self- sufficient in food production, while highlighting that, in line with the National Gender Plan and Policies, 35 per cent of the inputs were targeted at women farmers and processors, and that 10 per cent was targeted at people with special needs.
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According to him, it is imperative for the Federal Government to support smallholder farmers that are the most vulnerable in times of crisis, disclosing that the Ministry has distributed different equipment, improved seeds and seedlings of various crops to farmers in Osun, Plateau, Kaduna and Taraba States, and that the next major input and equipment distribution will be in Katsina State.
In his welcome address, Edo State Commissioner of Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Stephen Idehenre, noted that the distribution was meant to provide critical support to smallholder farmers in the state.
