Edo North Farmers Get Free Fertiliser, Farm Inputs as Okpebholo Govt Boosts Food Production

By Rosemary Okoduwa

The Edo State Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has commenced the direct distribution of free fertiliser and other farm inputs to profiled farmers in Edo North Senatorial District as part of efforts to boost agricultural production and strengthen food security in the State.

The exercise, which is being carried out at the Ministry’s Auchi Station warehouse, is benefiting profiled farmers from Akoko Edo, Etsako Central, Etsako East, Etsako West, Owan East and Owan West Local Government Areas. Over 1,800 bags of fertiliser, 900 knapsack sprayers and 80 cartons of Force-Up chemicals are being distributed to genuine farmers.

The Director of Agriculture and Extension Services Department, Mr. David Ogunbor, who represented the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Jerry Uwangue, said the exercise was aimed at ensuring that farm inputs provided by the State Government get directly to farmers across the three senatorial districts.

Ogunbor said the distribution, which began in Edo South through bulk SMS notifications to profiled farmers, was subsequently extended to Edo Central and Edo North. According to him, the exercise commenced in Edo North on Monday, with farmers turning up at the Auchi station to collect their allocated fertiliser and other inputs.

He explained that the support would particularly benefit farmers preparing for dry-season farming and those seeking a second application of fertiliser, also referred to as a booster dose, to improve crop yields. He urged beneficiaries to use the inputs strictly for agricultural purposes and maximise their benefits.

The Commissioner further explained that the knapsack sprayers and Force-Up chemicals were provided to assist farmers in controlling weeds, which he identified as one of the factors affecting crop yields. He assured farmers that the current distribution was only the first batch, adding that more inputs would be made available to reach additional beneficiaries.

Some beneficiaries, including Mr. Ibrahim Umaru, Atairu Murtala, High Chief John Onyemye, Mrs. Evelyn Iyalomhe and Maryam Adams Haladu, expressed appreciation to the State Government for the intervention, saying the inputs would help them increase food production.

They pledged to utilise the fertiliser and other farm inputs judiciously while appealing to the government to sustain and expand the programme by providing more inputs to enable farmers increase their production and contribute further to food security in Edo State.