Abuja, Sept. 5, 2024 (TheGavel) – The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has distributed agricultural inputs to 9,170 farmers as part of the FCT Fadama CARES programme, a key initiative under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The programme, which aims to enhance food security and empower vulnerable farmers, has seen remarkable progress within just one year of its implementation.
Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, the FCT Minister of State, announced this during the inauguration of the fourth batch of agricultural input distribution in Gwagwalada on Thursday. She revealed that 6,020 beneficiaries were part of this phase, receiving crucial farming tools and materials to boost productivity.
Inputs distributed to the farmers include fertilisers, seeds, agrochemicals, sprayers, and personal protective equipment for crop farmers. Poultry farmers received day-old chicks and feed, while fish farmers were given juvenile fish and fish feed. Livestock farmers benefited from goats, and women involved in agricultural product processing were provided with grinding machines to improve their businesses.
Mahmoud also explained that 3,150 farmers had benefitted in December 2023 during the third phase of distribution, which focused on dry-season farming. This brings the total number of beneficiaries to 9,170 within one year, marking a 216% increase compared to the 4,233 beneficiaries recorded in two years before the Tinubu administration.
According to Mahmoud, the FCT Fadama CARES programme, supported by the World Bank through the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES), is designed to enhance food security and ensure a smooth food supply chain in the FCT.
“The programme is specifically aimed at supporting the recovery of livelihoods for poor and vulnerable people involved in agriculture, with special focus on women and unemployed youths,” Mahmoud said. “Its implementation is based on the World Bank’s community-driven development approach, which directs investments at the community level.”
She further noted that the initiative is in line with President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which places a strong emphasis on sustainable food production. Mahmoud added that the FCT Administration, under the leadership of Minister Nyesom Wike, has allocated significant resources towards promoting agricultural sustainability in the region.
“This initiative serves as a major step in reducing poverty and improving the livelihoods of agricultural households in the FCT,” Mahmoud said. “Our administration is fully committed to achieving sustainable food production, nutritional security, and poverty alleviation.”
Additionally, Mahmoud disclosed that the FCTA’s Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat is leveraging the Fadama CARES programme to provide starter packs to 94 graduates of the FCT-Leventis Foundation School of Agriculture, Yaba, for the years 2022 and 2023. This forms part of the youth empowerment component of the programme, helping young people apply their skills in real-world agricultural settings.
In his remarks, Mr. Lawan Geidam, the Mandate Secretary of the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, outlined the specifics of the inputs distributed. According to Geidam, a total of 12,436 bags of NPK fertiliser, 6,218 bags of Urea fertiliser, 18,654 litres of agrochemicals, and 43,526 kilograms of assorted seeds were distributed under Disbursement Linked Indicator (DLI) 2.1.
For poultry farming, 55,400 day-old chicks and 7,756 bags of feed were provided, while fish farmers received 81,800 juvenile catfish and 2,045 bags of fish feed. Under DLI 2.3, livestock farmers were given 3,690 goats, and various farm assets, including sprayers, personal protective equipment, water pumps, and accessories, were provided to crop farmers.
Other equipment distributed included 1,006 grinding machines and 22 units of multipurpose threshers. Additionally, water and sanitation facilities have been established in 10 wet markets across the FCT’s six area councils to improve market infrastructure and sanitation.
The FCT Fadama CARES programme continues to serve as a critical tool in promoting food security, reducing poverty, and empowering farmers across the territory. Through its targeted approach, the programme is playing a vital role in building a resilient agricultural sector in the FCT.(NAN)
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