The Yobe government says it spent N15 billion on farm inputs and machinery to enhance food security and economic growth.

Ali Goniri, the commissioner for agriculture and natural resources, disclosed this in Damaturu on Monday.

He emphasised that the expenditure was justified, given the state’s vast arable land suitable for cultivating sesame, gum Arabic, rice, and guinea corn.

“The state government has invested over N15 billion this year alone to procure inputs and equipment under the Agricultural Revitalization programme. The equipment includes tractors and smaller machines for ploughing, tilling, threshing, planting, among others.

“These equipment and other inputs were distributed free of charge to 5,300 farmers across the 17 local government areas of the state,” Mr Goniri said.

The commissioner also noted that the ministry, in collaboration with the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, recently trained 178 extension workers.

“The training is crucial for effectively disseminating new agricultural innovations to peasant farmers by transmitting vital information directly to them,” he said.

Mr Goniri added that the extension workers and their supervisors would be provided with brand-new motorcycles to facilitate easy movement.

He urged the extension workers to conduct themselves well and ensure that they pass on the knowledge they acquired during the training to the farmers.

(NAN)