Abuja: No fewer than 12,000 farmers across the three senatorial districts of Edo are set to benefit from the Federal Government’s free fertiliser distribution programme, as part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Jerry Uwangue, announced the initiative during the programme’s inauguration on Wednesday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the fertilisers were procured through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and their distribution will be exclusive to farmers profiled by the state government. The profiling exercise, which covers farmers across the 18 local government areas, was conducted under the directive of Governor Monday Okpebholo to ensure that only genuine farmers benefit from this intervention.
Dr Uwangue emphasized that the distribution process will be transparent, with an open distribution and televised exercise to ensure accountability. He urged farmers to remain in their respective local government areas, where agricultural desk officers will manage the distribution. The initiative is set to commence next week, with fertilisers delivered directly to verified farmers.
Additionally, Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), highlighted the programme as evidence of the federal government’s commitment to enhancing food security. Represented by Mr Lecky Dauda, Assistant General Manager NADF, Ibrahim noted that the initiative aims to improve rural livelihoods and promote sustainable agricultural practices nationwide.
State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Patricia Imade, expressed gratitude to the president for the initiative, noting its potential to boost farmers’ productivity and increase agricultural yields across Edo state.