Farmers in Enugu State have expressed satisfaction and gratitude following the distribution of agricultural inputs and equipment by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS).
The Federal Government, through the ministry, distributed the inputs to smallholder farmers in Enugu on Thursday.
Items distributed included herbicides, fertilizers, knapsack sprayers, solar water pumps, oil pail chisels, rice growth enhancers, organic fertilizer for cassava, and other essential farm tools.
Beneficiaries comprised members of commodity associations, cooperative groups, persons with special needs, and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Mr. Patrick Mbah, Chairman of the Graduate Farmers Association in Enugu, thanked the ministry for the intervention but appealed to the Federal Government to address the problem of herders allowing cattle to graze on farmlands.
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He revealed that farmers in the association lost over 200 hectares of rice to herdsmen in 2024, adding that the inputs received would help cushion the losses.
Another beneficiary, Mr. Benedict Ekwochi, Vice Chairman of the Farmers With Disabilities Association, described the intervention as “powerful empowerment,” noting that it would significantly boost food production in the state.
“The inputs will boost our production next year,” he said.
Speaking during the distribution, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, said the initiative was part of government efforts to increase agricultural output, ensure food security, and reduce the risk of food crises.
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Kyari, represented by the ministry’s Head of Information, Mr. Ikemefuna Ezeaja, noted that the present administration was committed to developing agriculture and rural productivity in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the goal of zero hunger.
He emphasized that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Government had declared food security a national emergency in July 2023.
“This administration has demonstrated total political will to transform the agricultural sector by ensuring food availability, accessibility, and affordability for all Nigerians,” Kyari said.
He explained that the ministry had introduced several programmes to support farmers by providing agro-inputs and farm machinery, which many could not afford due to high market costs.
Earlier, the State Director of FMAFS in Enugu, Mrs. Ngozi Nwakeze, urged beneficiaries to share the inputs with other cooperative members and to use them responsibly for better yields.
She added that the ministry would monitor the utilization of the items to ensure accountability and improved productivity.
