Gbenga Oloniniran
The Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has distributed fertilisers, inputs and other farm equipment to farmers to support dry-season farming across the state.
The governor on Thursday launched the distribution at the Fadama III facility of the Ministry of Agriculture in Gusau.
A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, noted that the distributed inputs were critical for improving crop yields, reducing losses and promoting sustainable farming practices.
The statement added that the farm inputs and assets included 3,920 bags of NPK fertiliser, 1,956 bags of urea fertiliser, 3,920 litres of herbicide, 1,956 litres of insecticide and 3,920 sachets of seed-dressing chemical.
The governor reiterated that the programme was among the numerous measures his administration was taking to achieve its goal of increasing agricultural productivity, improving food security and enhancing the livelihoods of the people of Zamfara.
He said, “We are all aware that farming is the backbone of our economy, and it is our responsibility to support farmers with the necessary resources to thrive.
“The distribution of these fertilisers, inputs and other farm equipment is to bolster dry-season farming across the nation, including Zamfara State.
“NG-CARES programmes have provided the foundation for the state government to achieve remarkable milestones in the agricultural sector.
“Farm input support programmes conducted in preceding years for dry-season farming in the state have reached tens of thousands of smallholder farmers, who also benefited from improved seeds, agrochemicals and agronomic guidance.”
The governor further urged Zamfara farmers to make the most of the opportunity and use the inputs wisely.
“It is our ardent hope that these initiatives will provide the necessary impetus for sustainable agricultural development not only in Zamfara State but across the nation.
“Our administration will continue to leverage these programmes to sustainably produce food and reduce the country’s heavy reliance on food imports.
“It is a known fact that our challenges today are mostly associated with insecurity.
“As we provide our farmers with these items, we will also continue to strengthen the security architecture of our communities to achieve our goals.
“We will also continue to provide similar interventions and develop new policies and programmes to address emerging challenges.
“Let us work together to secure our environment, cultivate and harvest more, and build a prosperous Zamfara State,” he said.
The governor acknowledged the support of development partners and the Federal Government for the success of the NG-CARES programme.
“Finally, I want to acknowledge the support of our development partners and the Federal Government for their commitment to the NG-CARES programme.
“There is no doubt that the NG-CARES programme has significantly improved yields, incomes and food security by combining inputs with behavioural enablers, including seed adoption, advisory services and peer learning.
“We are committed to cooperating with you to ensure seamless implementation of developmental policies and programmes initiated, particularly in the agricultural sector, for the overall development of our dear state,” he said.
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