Governor Dauda Lawal has flagged off the distribution of fertilisers, inputs and equipment to dry-season farmers in Zamfara.

This was announced in a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, on Thursday.

Mr Lawal said that fertilisers and inputs were being distributed early to improve farmers’ crop yields, reduce harvest losses, and promote sustainable farming practices.

The farming inputs and assets distributed included 3,920 bags of NPK, 1,956 bags of urea, 3,920 litres of herbicide, 1,956 litres of insecticide, and 3,920 sachets of seed-dressing chemicals.

Mr Lawal reiterated the numerous measures being taken to increase agricultural productivity, improve food security, and enhance people’s livelihoods.

He said, “We are all aware that farming is the backbone of our economy, and it is our responsibility to support farmers with the necessary resources to thrive.

“Distribution of these fertilisers, inputs, and other farm equipment is to bolster dry-season farming across the nation, including Zamfara. NG-Cares programmes have provided the foundation for the State Government to achieve remarkable milestones in the agricultural sector.

“Farm input support programmes conducted in the preceding years on dry-season farming in the state have reached tens of thousands of smallholder farmers, who also benefited from improved seeds, agrochemicals, and agronomic guidance.”

The governor urged farmers to make the most of the opportunity and use the inputs wisely.

“It is our ardent hope that these initiatives will provide the necessary impetus for sustainable agricultural development not only in Zamfara but across the nation.

“Our administration will continue to leverage these programmes to sustainably produce food and reduce the country’s heavy reliance on food imports.

“It is a known fact that our challenges of today are mostly associated with insecurity,” he said.

According to him, the government will provide these items to farmers, adding that it will also continue to strengthen the security architecture to achieve targeted goals.

He said his administration would also continue to provide similar interventions and develop new policies and programmes to address emerging challenges.

“Let us work together to secure our environments, cultivate and harvest more, and build a prosperous Zamfara. Finally, I want to acknowledge the support of our development partners and the federal government of Nigeria for their commitment to the NG-CARES programme.

“There is no doubt that the NG-CARES programme has significantly improved yields, incomes, and food security by combining inputs with behavioural enablers, including seed adoption, advisory services, and peer learning.

“We are committed to cooperating with you to ensure seamless implementation of developmental policies and programmes initiated, particularly in the agricultural sector, for the overall development of our dear state,” Mr Lawal said.

(NAN)