In a bid to strengthen national food security, the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has distributed free farming equipment and inputs to 31 smallholder farmers’ cooperatives in Kebbi State.
The benefiting cooperatives were selected from all 21 Local Government Areas of the state.
Each cooperative received a package comprising: 20 cartons of liquid organic fertilizer, one rice de-stoner, one food dehydrator, one maize thresher and equipment set, two knapsack sprayers, one multi-purpose thresher, and one smoke-clean machine.
Inaugurating the distribution in Argungu, Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari (represented by Dr Muhammad Bashir-Abdulkadir, Director of the Federal Department of Cooperatives), said the gesture aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He stated that the items were provided free of charge to support smallholder farmers, increase their revenue, and contribute to national food security.
“The ultimate goal of any nation is to achieve food security. This is an international priority reflected in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” the minister said.
“To address the challenges hindering our national food security objectives, the present administration is implementing economic reforms to boost productive capacity, create jobs, and reduce the cost of living. Emergency responses and targeted humanitarian interventions have also been deployed to mitigate food crises across the country.”
Senator Kyari recalled that, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Federal Government declared a state of emergency on food security in July 2023.
He assured that the administration has shown strong political will to transform agriculture by making the sector a top priority.
“The ministry has launched numerous programmes and projects to tackle farmers’ challenges and ensure food is available, accessible, and affordable for all Nigerians,” he added.
“Going forward, we remain committed to aligning all sectoral programmes and initiatives with the presidential priority on food security. Federal and state governments continue to collaborate to resolve issues affecting national food security goals. We are also fostering synergies with NGOs and the private sector to advance food security, economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction.”
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The minister reiterated the administration’s resolve to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals—particularly zero hunger—while addressing the ongoing food crisis.
Earlier, the State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Hadi Abdurrazak-Muhammad, explained that the event aimed to support smallholder farmer cooperatives in the drive for national food security.
He noted that the Federal Government, in partnership with the Kebbi State Government, had previously distributed farming inputs to smallholder farmers to boost morale and productivity.
He urged beneficiaries to use the equipment and inputs judiciously to increase agricultural output and improve their financial wellbeing.
The Chairman of Argungu Local Government, represented by Councillor Buhari Usman (Agriculture portfolio), commended both the federal and state governments for the initiative.
The Emir of Argungu, Muhammad Sama’ila-Mera, prayed that the donations would serve as a foundation for enhanced agricultural production in the area.
In interviews with journalists, beneficiaries—including Bello Kalgo, Secretary of AFAN Kebbi Chapter, and Fatima Abubakar, Secretary of KADAGE Women Farmers’ Association—described the equipment and inputs as a vital catalyst for boosting national food security.
They pledged to make effective and efficient use of the items to positively impact their members and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s food security goals.
