The Federal Government has declared its readiness to bring down the rising cost of agricultural inputs across the country, following complaints by farmers over the impact of high prices on food production and livelihoods.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, gave the assurance on Wednesday in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, while flagging off the distribution of agricultural equipment and inputs to farmers’ groups drawn from across the state.
The items distributed include 46 tricycles, nine weight scales, three destoners, seven petrol engines, seven small scale rice mills, two steam parboilers, among others.
The intervention is part of the Value Chain Development Programme jointly funded by the Federal Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development to strengthen rice and cassava value chains in the state.
Kyari said the Federal Government would deliberately intervene to stabilise input prices, just as it did with food prices, noting that the rising cost of farm inputs had become a major concern among farmers.
He said, “At least, we were able to get prices of food stabilised, but I know that farmers are complaining of inputs, and we will also do the same for inputs, just like we did for the prices of food.
“We are going to bring down the prices of the inputs. It is going to be a deliberate effort. I am sure that the state governments are going to participate in that as well.”
The Minister explained that the VCDP was in line with the vision of Tinubu to reduce hardship, boost food production and support farmers across the country.
He added that when the programme commenced, 150,000 farmers were targeted for support, while about 135,000 had already benefitted.
Kyari expressed optimism that the programme would reach its full target before its conclusion this year, as part of efforts by the Federal Government and IFAD to strengthen food security.
“This programme that we see here is one of those visions of Mr President in trying to alleviate the sufferings of the people and also for the farmers,” he said.
He urged beneficiary farmers to make proper use of the equipment to enhance productivity and improve their livelihoods, while commending the Nasarawa State Government for consistently paying its counterpart funds, which he said had sustained the programme in the state.
In his remarks, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, appreciated the Federal Government and Tinubu for sustained support to the state, describing Nasarawa as a major food producing state.
“Nasarawa State continues to remain a state of agriculture, and that is the reason why, if we become number one in the Value Chain Development Programme, it is not going to be a surprise,” he said.
He added that the state decided to support the programme because of its focus on value chains, stressing the importance of addressing post harvest losses through processing and market linkages.
Also speaking, the National Programme Coordinator of the FGN IFAD VCDP, Fatima Aliyu, said the distribution of inputs was aimed at ensuring farmers across benefiting local government areas could produce enough food for the growing population.
She disclosed that the programme was inclusive, noting that persons with disabilities were also beneficiaries.
“The VCDP is all inclusive. We have people with disabilities who are also part of the VCDP. And indeed today, some people with disability are going to receive these inputs,” she said.
Aliyu added that beneficiaries contributed matching grants to access the equipment, citing a case where persons with disabilities raised N1.5 million as their contribution.
Earlier, the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Agriculture, Tanko Tunga, said farmers in the state had benefitted from improved inputs, modern agronomic practices, strengthened farmer organisations and better processing and market access through the programme.
He noted that the new distribution would further enhance collective action, efficiency in production, processing and marketing.
The State Programme Coordinator of the FGN IFAD VCDP, Eunice Adgidz, also thanked the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Nasarawa State Government for their support, pledging continued commitment to boosting farmers’ productivity and tackling hunger.
Benefiting local government areas under the programme include Lafia, Doma, Nasarawa, Wamba and Karu.
During his visit, the Minister also commissioned and inspected rice processing centres executed by the programme in the Kwanka and Ashangwa communities in Lafia Local Government Area.
