Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has flagged off the distribution of subsidized inputs to 6,000 wheat farmers in Kano state.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakar Kyari flagged off the distribution in Alkamawa village Bunkure Local Government Area Aggregation Centre.
The Minister represented by the State Coordinator, Isa Isyaku Hotoro informed the farmers that, the scheme under the National Agricultural Growth Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) was designed to stimulate increased productivity and higher yields among farmers.
He assured that, the inputs will provide significant impact on food production and agricultural growth across the country.
According to Kyari, the government gave the inputs at 75 percent subsidy while the farmers will pay the balance of 25 percent.
He said, “each farmer will collect three bags of fertilizer and one bag of 50kg wheat seeds at the cost of N111,000 which represents 25 percent of the total package.”
The Minister noted that, the farmers are expected to cultivate 3,000 hectares of farmlands in 12 clusters at Alkamawa in Bunkure, Ajingi and Gaya local councils.
He said, “each farmer is expected to cultivate 0.5 hectares in the 12 special clusters in Alkamawa, Ajingi and Gaya Local Government Areas of the state.”
Chairman wheat farmers Yakubu Ibrahim commended the initiative and appreciated the Federal Government for the gesture.
He said, high cost of the inputs and transportation compelled most of the farmers in the areas to reduce the number of hectares they cultivate.
Others who spoke, urged the government to ensure timely distribution of the inputs to enable farmers prepare early plantation.
