The Federal Government, in its bid to help cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, has supported smallholder farmers in Imo State with 20,000 cocoa seedlings and other improved seeds.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, said this in a statement on Sunday by the Director of Information, Theodore Ogaziechi.
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The minister said the Federal Government was committed to improving agriculture.
Nanono said this during the official roll out ceremony of the distribution of free agricultural inputs to farmers in Imo State.
Nanono added that over 5,000 oil palm sprouted nuts and 1,500 kilogramme of cashew seeds were distributed to the farmers.
He stressed that yam farmers through their national association and other cooperative groups would be supported with 20,000 one node vine cuttings and 10,000 foundation seeds of yam and 200 litres of pathway organic growth enhancer.
“Potatoes farmers will benefit from 1,500 bundles of orange fleshed sweet potatoes that were distributed at the occasion, and 200 litres of pathway organic solution for the yam farmers,” he said.
According to him, having access to quality seeds was a foundation to attaining food and nutrition security and industrialisation of the agricultural sector.
“Through this effort and other complementary interventions by different stakeholders, government hopes to increase quality seeds, resilience of farmers, accessibility and national food systems in general.
In his remark, the Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, lauded the agricultural policies and visionary leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari in job creation, food sufficiency and economic growth. (NAN)
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