About 12,000 farmers across the three senatorial districts of Edo State are set to benefit from the Federal Government’s free fertiliser distribution programme aimed at boosting agricultural production and enhancing food security.
Speaking at the official flag-off of the distribution exercise in Benin City, the Edo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Jerry Uwangue, said the fertilisers would be distributed only to farmers who had been profiled by the state government.
According to him, the state received the fertilisers from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Uwangue explained that the state government had earlier carried out a comprehensive profiling exercise across the 18 local government areas on the directive of Governor Monday Okpebholo to ensure that only genuine farmers benefit from the programme.
He disclosed that over 12,000 farmers have so far been profiled, with the registration exercise still ongoing, adding that the distribution process would be transparent and open to public scrutiny.
The commissioner revealed that the state had received 8,000 bags of fertiliser in the first phase of the programme, which would be distributed across the three senatorial districts based on the state’s farmers’ database.
He advised farmers to remain in their respective local government areas, noting that agricultural desk officers in each council would coordinate the distribution. He added that the exercise would commence next week, with the fertilisers going directly to verified farmers.
Representing the Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), Mohammed Ibrahim, the Assistant General Manager of the agency, Lecky Dauda, said the initiative demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to improving food security, enhancing rural livelihoods and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
He noted that the programme aligns with the Edo State Government’s SHINE Agenda and urged beneficiaries to make effective use of the fertilisers to improve crop yields.
Also speaking, the Edo State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Imade Patricia, commended President Bola Tinubu for the initiative, describing it as a significant intervention that would increase agricultural productivity and improve farmers’ incomes.
She assured profiled farmers that the fertilisers were available for distribution and encouraged beneficiaries to utilise them responsibly.
Some of the beneficiaries, including Iserhien Deborah, Peter Igiorigkhi and Gbegbega Fadeyi, expressed appreciation to both the Federal and Edo State Governments, saying the support would boost food production and improve their farming activities.
