The distribution of 12,000 metric tons of agricultural inputs to 60,000 farmers in Niger state has commenced by One Acre Fund Nigeria.
Beneficiaries were however warned not to divert products for sale in local markets.
The Country Director of One Acre Fund Nigeria, Adetola Adegbite stated this Thursday while flagging off the distribution exercise in Maikukele area of Niger state.
He said: “One Acre Fund Nigeria has been assisting farmers in Niger state with improved seedlings to address obstacles facing food production.”
He stated that the inputs are given to the farmers at price rates lower than market prices, warning farmers not to divert the products for sale in local markets.
He listed the improved seeds for distribution to include rice, maize, okro and pesticides, adding that, “the farmers are also benefitting from fertilizers distribution programme.”
Also speaking, the Niger state chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) Alhaji Shehu Galadima advised the management of One Acre Fund Nigeria to ensure that only genuine farmers benefit from the exercise.
He said the intervention of One Acre Fund Nigeria in agriculture in Niger state has been yielding fruitful results over the years, adding that, ” I want to call on the One Acre Fund Nigeria to extend its services to all the 25 local governments of Niger state from the 14 local governments presently covered,”
Represented by Adamu Garba, the Niger state Commissioner of Agriculture and Food Security, Bawa Bosso, commended the organisation for assisting over 33,000 farmers across 14 local governments in the state last year.
