The Federal Government said on Monday that it has supported 274,000 farmers in Kebbi state with fertiliser, improved seedlings and chemicals to boost food production.
Mr Kelvin Tekpat, a Director in the federal ministry of agriculture, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi that the farmers were among the 340,00 registered under the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) in the state.
He said 58 redemption centres had been established through which each farmer would receive two bags of subsidised fertiliser, two packs of chemicals and 50 kgs of improved seedlings.
According to him, the improved seedlings would enable each farmer to produce at least seven tons of crops per hectare.
Tekpat urged the Kebbi State Government to assist the ministry with vehicles with which to monitor farmers to ensure the success of the programme.
In a separate interview, the Secretary, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in the state, Alhaji Muhammad Idris, said the implementation of the GES was a huge success.
He commended the federal government for the initiative, saying it had reduced hardship faced by rural farmers in accessing critical farming inputs. [NAN]
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