ASHENEWS reports that towards ensuring food security, the Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State presided over the distribution of agricultural inputs to farmers in Dange town, Dange Shuni Local Government Area, on July 27, 2024.
The event, organised in a significant move to enhance agricultural productivity and promote food security in the state, aimed to ensure a bumper harvest for the 2024 cropping season and included a comprehensive support package for both women and youth farmers.
Governor Aliyu emphasized the importance of the initiative in addressing food security and creating job opportunities, particularly at the grassroots level. “We are here to distribute agricultural inputs free of charge to our farmers, including women and youths, with the sole aim of ensuring a bumper harvest and promoting food security by the special grace of Allah,” he said.
According to Aliyu, the assorted fertilizers were sourced from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, FADAMA NG-CARES Programme in collaboration with the Sokoto State Government, with the first consignment of N4,792,920,000.004 worth of 203 trucks provided by the 23 local government areas in collaboration with the state government.
ALSO READ Food security: FEC approves procurement of 2,000 tractors, 1,200 trailers
Each local government area in Sokoto State will receive 10 trucks of fertilizer, with seven trucks allocated for the wet season and the remaining three trucks reserved for the dry season. This distribution strategy aims to ensure sustained agricultural output throughout the 2024 cropping seasons.
Under the Sokoto State FADAMA NG-CARES program, 195 Farmer Community Associations (FCAs), consisting of 16,967 farmers across the 23 local government areas, will benefit from the free distribution of this year’s procured fertilizer. Additionally, the state will distribute 45,366 bags of NPK fertilizer, 24,264 bags of Urea, 20,664 liters of agrochemicals, and 20,000 kg each of rice, sorghum, and millet seeds to farmers.
To further support self-reliance among youths and women, the state government will distribute 1,000 water pumps, 23 multipurpose threshers, 3,000 tomato grinding machines, and 58 rice thresher machines at no cost.
Governor Aliyu also announced plans to revive irrigation sites in the state, with work on Lugu Dam in Wurno local government area set to commence soon. The rehabilitation of the dam, with an investment of N10 billion aims to boost rice production in Sokoto State.
He called on civil servants, politicians, businesspeople, youths, and all citizens to seize the opportunities provided in the agricultural sector to enhance self-reliance and economic growth. “The only approach we can adopt to ensure improved living conditions for our people is to enhance our agricultural production,” he said.
The Sokoto State Government is actively partnering with numerous national and international organizations to strengthen and enhance agricultural productivity. Governor Aliyu assured continued collaboration with development partners and the Federal Government to diversify revenue sources and improve living standards.
Expressing gratitude, Governor Aliyu thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for donating 60 trucks of fertilizer to Sokoto State, which he said would significantly boost agricultural activities. He also appreciated the support of development partners such as the World Bank, the Federal CARES Support Unit, and the National Fadama Coordination Office.
Governor Aliyu urged the beneficiaries of the agricultural inputs to ensure proper usage to achieve the desired impact on food security and agricultural productivity in the state.
