TheCable

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) says it has empowered 250 farmers in Bauchi state.

FMAFS said the empowerment is in partnership with the federal ministry of budget and national planning in a bid to boost agricultural production.

Temitope Fashedemi, permanent secretary of the ministry, said the collaboration between the two ministries is aimed at reducing poverty in Nigeria.

“The level of poverty in Nigeria is alarming. An estimated population of 88.4 million people in Nigeria are living in extreme poverty,” he said.

The permanent secretary, who was represented at the training on farm inputs by Daniel Abarshi, state coordinator of the ministry in Bauchi, said the initiative was under the federal government’s National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS).

“Today marks a significant milestone in our collective commitment to uplifting the lives of our smallholder farmers and fostering sustainable agricultural practices,” Abarshi said.

“The NPRGS, in collaboration with the Federal Department of Agricultural Extension Service (FDAE), has diligently enumerated and validated approximately 250 farmers for participation in this transformative programme.

“These farmers are not just the backbone of our agricultural sector; they form the heartbeat of our nation’s prosperity.

“The NPRGS reflects our government’s dedication to addressing poverty at its roots, emphasising the pivotal role agriculture plays in economic growth and development.”

He added that through training and empowerment programmes, they were sowing the seeds of positive change.

“We are ensuring that smallholder farmers have the knowledge, resources and support needed to thrive in an ever-evolving agricultural landscape,” he added.

“This programme is not merely an investment in agriculture; it is an investment in the future of our nation.

“As we equip these farmers with the tools to enhance productivity, improve resilience, and embrace sustainable practices, we are laying the foundation for a more resilient and prosperous agricultural sector.”

NAN reports that farm inputs distributed include sprayer, herbicides, fish feeds, 25 one-day-old broilers and improved seeds of maize, rice, pepper and tomatoes. Farmers were trained on crop enterprises, fisheries and poultry.

Mohammed Salihu, a director in the state ministry of agriculture, applauded the federal government empowerment programmes, saying the state has always benefitted from the interventions.

Salihu urged beneficiaries to make good use of the knowledge acquired at the training, and cautioned them against selling the inputs.