Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has flagged off the distribution of fertiliser to farmers free of charge.
Governor Sani, in a statement he posted on his verified Facebook account on Monday evening, said the flag-off was to empower farmers and re-energise the agricultural sector in Kaduna State.
He disclosed that the exercise involved the distribution of 500 trucks (about 15,000 metric tonnes) of fertiliser to farmers across Kaduna State.
According to him, 240,000 bags will be distributed to 120,000 smallholder farmers free of charge.
“The smallholder farmers who would benefit from this exercise were carefully selected by an all-inclusive, non-partisan committee made up of representatives of the Kaduna State Chapter of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kaduna State Council of Chiefs, Kaduna Elders Forum, Nigeria Labour Congress, religious bodies, security agencies, and the Kaduna State Government,” his statement read.
“Key stakeholders who spoke at the well-attended flag-off ceremony, which took place at Murtala Square, Kaduna, commended our administration for the initiative, stating that it is the first time farmers are being given fertilisers of this magnitude for free, adding that it will help in boosting the agricultural sector and enhancing food security in the state.”
The governor stressed that the free fertiliser initiative is a demonstration of his administration’s commitment to empowering farmers and re-energising the agricultural sector.
“Agriculture is not only the backbone of our state’s economy but also a vital contributor to our overall growth and development,” he stated.