By Tina George, Minna
The Commodity Alliance Forum (CAF), has distributed farm inputs to 250 farmers in Niger state for the dry season farming.
The farmers were drawn from 10 farmers cooperatives in five local government areas of the state.
Flagging off the distribution in Badeggi, Katcha local government area of state, the chairman, Ibrahim Kanko said that the distribution was to ameliorate the sufferings of the farmers who may not be able to afford farm inputs because of the effect of COVID-19 and flooding.
According to him, the inputs are given to farmers, which cost is expected to be paid after they harvest their crops, adding that the Forum plans to capture more farmers during the wet season farming.
Kanko appealed to the farmers to endeavor to pay back in time so that other farmers would be able to benefit.
The state coordinator of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD Value Chain Development Programme, Dr Mathew Ahmed applauded the farmers for taking an initiative towards sustaining the projects and programmes of the fund.
He said that it is the first of its kind among farmers in states under IFAD-VCDP intervention programmes urging the farmers to try their best to sustain it.
“IFAD VCDP-AF has been preaching sustainability because the intervention would not be in Nigeria forever. It is a good thing that the farmers have decided to come under a forum where they can put into practice all that we have taught them.
“It is good to see the farmers approaching agro-dralers and looking for ways to buy inputs in bulk and distribute it among themselves as credit facilities. I encourage the farmers to pay back so that other farmers can be service in other phase.”
