Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, yesterday kicked off the distribution of farm inputs and assets to 8,200 farmers from across the state, under the Nasarawa State COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (N-CARES) programme.
The Governor said N-CARES is providing 4,000 farmers with an input package of herbicide, fertilizer and 4,000kg of sesame seeds to support them with climate-smart agricultural inputs to increase farm yield and livelihoods.
He added that N-CARES is also providing 4,200 farmers with an asset package of sprayer, rain boot, hand glove and nose mask to serve as Personal Protective Equipment in line with global best practices.
He commended the N-CARES for the provision of farm inputs to support local farmers in order to improve yield and boost agricultural production for food security and value-chain addition in the country.
“As you may be aware, the NG-CARES programme was designed to serve as a response to the hardship occasioned by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic which affected the global economy over the years.
“It is also intended to provide support in the form of grants to the poor and vulnerable households, with a view to enhance access to livelihoods and other social services,” he stated.
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He emphasized that the Nasarawa State N-CARES programme is focused on agriculture because agriculture remains the mainstay of the economy of the state, with over 80 percent of the population engaging in one form of farming activity or the other.
The Governor used the opportunity to announce that his administration has approved for the immediate procurement and distribution of fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers, in addition to other farm inputs which are being distributed towards delivering the objectives enshrined in the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS).
Commissioner of Finance, Munirat Abdullahi, described the event as a turning point in the state government’s commitment to supporting agriculture while recognizing that a thriving agricultural sector is vital for the prosperity of the people and the growth of the state’s economy, as well as growing the IGR of the state.
NG-CARES state coordinator, Umar Dahiru Ibrahim, said his agency has so far impacted on 100 beneficiaries.