The Kaduna State Chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria has commended the Federal Government for subsidising inputs for dry-season farming.

The state AFAN chairman, Nuhu Aminu, who made the commendation in an interview with journalists on Wednesday in Zaria, however, said the subsequent distribution of the inputs should be made early.

He said that the implementation of the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro Pocket initiative had been well handled so far and urged the government to sustain and up-scale the initiative to strengthen food security and job creation.

The NAGS-AP targets smallholder farmers to enhance food production in Nigeria.

The chairman added that the recent distribution of inputs to wheat farmers through the NAGS-AP indicated a promising result in wheat production in the country.

“Under the initiative, the Federal Government subsidises dry-season wheat farming inputs by 50 per cent under its National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP) initiative. For dry-season wheat farming, a beneficiary is required to deposit N180,500, representing 50 per cent of the total cost of the inputs, to qualify for the subsidy.

“Over 90 per cent of the beneficiaries had redeemed their inputs and planted the wheat within time; the government intervention has greatly augmented their personal efforts,’’ Mr Aminu said.

The AFAN chairman said to sustain the likely gains, the government must ensure early distribution of inputs in subsequent programmes covered by NAGS-AP, which include rice, maize, and other commodities.

Mr Aminu also said the government should create additional windows where a farmer who needs inputs for half a hectare can get them instead of only those cultivating a hectare as presently captured under the NAGS-AP.

According to him, this will encourage more smallholder farmers to take part in the initiative.

Mr Aminu further said the federal and state governments should work closely to ensure that only genuine farmers benefit from the programme.

He explained there was a little mix-up during the disbursement of wheat farming inputs, where names of members of other commodity associations who did not apply got redemption codes for wheat farming inputs.

“This explained the need for a closer working relationship between the states and the Federal Government,’’ Mr Aminu said.

The chairman said the initiative was in line with the yearning of AFAN to empower smallholder farmers, who are the largest food producers in Nigeria.

“The NAGS-AP prevents farmers from becoming debtors and other exploitations experienced during the Anchor Borrowers Scheme; it links farmers with genuinely improved seeds and other inputs, as well as agro-dealers,” he added.

(NAN)