The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has distributed agricultural inputs to Abia, Kebbi and Yobe farmers.

The agency’s executive secretary, Paul Ikonne, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

He said the inputs were aimed at assisting farmers to maximise crop cultivation for improved yields and increased food production.

Mr Ikonne said the beneficiaries in Abia and Yobe received NALDA-branded bags containing high-grade fertiliser, herbicides, and improved maize seeds.

He said that beneficiaries in Kebbi received improved rice seeds that could effectively cover half of a hectare of farmland.

Mr Ikonne assured farmers that NALDA would continue to support them with agricultural inputs.

He said farmers’ empowerment fulfilled President Bola Tinubu’s promise to ensure that Nigerians would have enough food at affordable prices.

He said NALDA resolved to ensure that Nigerians would understand the importance of farming, adding that the federal government was determined to ensure massive food production.

He said the agency expected the beneficiaries to cultivate no fewer than 340 hectares.

He urged them to utilise the inputs well.

According to him, outputs from the empowerment programme are expected to help reduce the cost of food items in the next four months.

“The empowerment of farmers by NALDA is a continuous exercise to encourage more Nigerians to go into farming to ensure self-sufficiency in food production and boost food security,” he said.

(NAN)