The Plateau State Government yesterday flagged off the distribution of 120,000 bags of fertilisers to 40,000 farmers across the state to boost dry-season farming.
The state’s deputy governor, Josephine Piyo, handed over the fertilisers to state coordinators of FADAMA, PADP and CARES for onward distribution to the beneficiaries.
He said the fertilisers were obtained as a grant from the Nigeria Government COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme.
The deputy governor said the support would enhance crop yields, improve soil fertility, and increase the income of farmers.
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The state coordinator of NG-CARES, Dr Haggai Gutap, who received the fertilisers on behalf of the farmers, said the grant was targeted at reducing the negative impact of COVID-19 as regards food security.
Gutap said, “I’m sure you know COVID-19 brought so much hunger and poverty, it crumbled small and medium-scale businesses.
“There is no doubt that the agricultural sector creates small and medium-scale businesses. The farming inputs we are distributing to farmers will not only better the lives of the farmers but will also have multiplying effect on the economy of the state.”