The Federal Capital Territory Administration has kicked off the distribution of about 900 metric tonnes of 30 trucks of assorted fertilizers to farmers in the Territory.
The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, who flagged-off the distribution exercise in Abuja, revealed that the assorted fertilizers were donated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMA&FS) to the FCT Administration for distribution to farmers in the nation’s capital.
The Minister said that the event was manifestation of the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s strategic response with a view to addressing the global challenge of food shortages.
While acknowledging the challenges faced by the populace regarding the high cost of food items, Mahmoud expressed the commitment of the Administration to proactively implement measures to address the situation.
Her words: “As you may recall, within the past two months, we have undertaken several initiatives to enhance food production. In collaboration with the World Bank and Islamic Development Bank, we achieved a significant milestone by providing farmers with a comprehensive range of agricultural inputs.”
“Building on this success, we also successfully distributed the palliatives approved by Mr. President, bringing much-needed relief and succour to the residents of the FCT”.
She, however, assured that the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat has fully adhered to the distribution guidelines outlined by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which includes the setting up of a broad-based Ad-hoc committee to strategize and come up with distribution plans that would ensure the fertilizers reach the intended beneficiaries.
The Minister appreciated the partners for their support in training of Agricultural Extension Agents and farmers; stressing that the administration is committed to sustaining this synergy and continuing the efforts to empower agricultural stakeholders with the knowledge and skills necessary for success.
The Minister used the occasion to call on FCT residents, particularly the youth population, to take advantage of the vast arable land that the FCT is blessed with and venture into agriculture, no matter how small.
On his part, the Mandate Secretary Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Lawan Kolo Geidam, noted that the donation from the Central Bank of Nigeria; was timely response to mitigate the adverse impact of the current global food crisis, exacerbated by Climate Change, low production, and high prices on Nigerians.
He further stressed that the intervention was also an unequivocal reaffirmation of the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to his ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’, part of which prioritizes agricultural revitalization by empowering farmers with essential inputs.
“We are optimistic that the substantial quantity of fertilizers generously provided will yield a remarkable outcome, culminating in a bumper harvest this year, thereby enhancing food availability, improved nutrition, economic growth, and overall well-being of FCT residents,” he added.
