Kwara State distributes farm inputs to 600,000 beneficiaries

NIGERIA- Kwara State Government has announced the start of the 4th phase of the NG-CARES (Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery Stimulus) program, which involves the distribution of agriculture inputs to 600,00 farmers. 

The beneficiaries will receive certified seeds, boats, agrochemicals, grinding machines, and power tillers to enhance their agricultural productivity.  

The state governments announced that the distribution efforts will start with 10,000 registered farmers across the 16 main local administrative divisions in the state during the current season. The program will then expand distribution efforts to more farmers in subsequent seasons. 

The government lauded the program, stating that it would greatly improve the state’s food security and agribusiness potential. 

Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq said, “This administration is committed to addressing the challenges in the agricultural sector. Farmers are recognized as the backbone of food security and economic growth. Hence, a rigorous farmer registration process has been set up, ensuring that only genuine farmers benefit.” 

The fourth phase of the program continues the state government’s efforts to empower farmers and optimize agricultural production. 

According to the governor, 2 million people in the state have directly benefitted from various agriculture enhancement projects, including Social Cash Transfer, NG-CARES, and the FADAMA project series.  

The distribution program was announced at a time when Nigeria is facing a possible perilous food crisis due to high input costs, climate change, and insecurity. The cost of NPK fertilizer has increased by 49% within the past year, from N26,000 (US$16.16) to N53,000 (US$33.86). 

The prices of various herbicides has also increased by 100%, with some like Glyview nearly tripling from N7,500 (US$4.79) to N23,000 (US$14.17) within a year. 

Food-producing areas like Kaduna, Benue, and Plateau, among others, face poor security, which also inhibited food production in the past year.  

Owing to these challenges, the cost of cultivating a hectare of farmland in Nigeria has almost tripled in the past year. Farmers have reduced their production, causing a surge in food prices. 

According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), food inflation in H1 2024 reached a five-year high of 40.66%. 

Kwara’s state government reiterated the distribution program was meant to offer continuous support to vulnerable individuals, especially smallholder farmers.