By Agrobroadcast Team
Smallholder farmers in Katsina State are set to benefit from fresh federal intervention as the government begins the distribution of free agricultural inputs to 1,000 vulnerable farmers, including internally displaced persons and persons living with disabilities.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, formally launched the exercise on Thursday in Katsina, describing it as a strategic response to rising production costs and food supply pressures across the country.
Kyari said the support forms part of the Federal Government’s broader agricultural reform agenda aimed at strengthening national food security, stimulating productivity and cushioning the effects of economic hardship on rural communities.
He noted that food security remains both a domestic imperative and a global priority, in line with the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
According to the minister, the current administration has introduced sweeping economic and sector-specific reforms designed to revitalise agriculture, expand employment opportunities and stabilise food prices.
He recalled that a state of emergency on food security was declared in July 2023 as part of urgent measures to reposition the sector. Since assuming office on August 21, 2023, Kyari said the ministry has reviewed existing programmes and rolled out targeted initiatives to enhance farmers’ access to critical inputs and mechanisation support.
“To overcome obstacles undermining our food security objectives, we are implementing practical reforms that will drive productivity and guarantee improved food availability,” the minister stated.
He added that emergency and humanitarian interventions were also being deployed to mitigate the impact of the prevailing food crisis, particularly among vulnerable groups.
The intervention in Katsina specifically targets smallholder farmers grappling with high input costs and limited access to modern tools.
Kyari assured that the distribution process would remain transparent and accountable, ensuring that resources reach intended beneficiaries.
Items distributed under the scheme include power tillers, herbicides, liquid fertilisers, knapsack sprayers and water pumps equipment expected to improve efficiency and expand cultivation capacity.
Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria in Katsina, Ya’u Gwajo-Gwajo, welcomed the federal support but called for the inclusion of improved seed varieties and subsidised fertilisers in future interventions.
He stressed that access to quality seeds and affordable fertilisers would significantly enhance output and enable farmers to maximise the benefits of the supplied inputs.
The distribution marks another step in the government’s efforts to reinforce agricultural resilience and reduce pressure on food systems nationwide.