The Federal Government has pledged to stabilise the prices of agricultural inputs nationwide, following what it described as the successful stabilisation of food prices under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, made the promise on Wednesday in Lafia, Nasarawa State, during the flag-off of the distribution of agricultural equipment to farmers’ groups across the state.
Items distributed included 46 tricycles, nine weighing scales, three destoners, seven petrol engines, seven small-scale rice mills, two steam parboilers and other farm inputs. The equipment was procured by the Federal Government in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development through the Value Chain Development Programme to strengthen rice and cassava value chains and improve farmers’ livelihoods.
Kyari said the VCDP, which began a few years ago, initially targeted 150,000 farmers nationwide, noting that about 135,000 farmers had already benefited from various interventions under the programme.
He expressed confidence that the remaining beneficiaries would be reached before the programme concludes later this year, in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to food security.
“This programme is part of Mr President’s vision to ease the suffering of Nigerians, especially farmers,” Kyari said. “We were able to stabilise food prices, and we are aware of complaints about the high cost of inputs. We will deliberately intervene to bring down the prices of inputs as well, with the support of state governments.”
The minister urged beneficiary farmers to utilise the equipment effectively to improve productivity and income, while commending the Nasarawa State Government for consistently paying its counterpart funds, which he said had sustained the programme’s impact in the state.
Governor Abdullahi Sule, in his remarks, thanked President Tinubu and the Minister of Agriculture for their continued support, describing Nasarawa as a leading food-producing state.
“Nasarawa remains an agricultural state, and our strong performance under the VCDP is no coincidence,” Sule said. “We are focused on empowering small-scale farmers and addressing post-harvest losses by strengthening the entire value chain.”
Also speaking, the National Programme Coordinator of the FGN/IFAD VCDP, Fatima Aliyu, said the distribution of inputs was aimed at boosting food production across participating local government areas, including Lafia, Doma, Nasarawa, Wamba and Karu.
Aliyu noted that the programme was inclusive, revealing that persons with disabilities were among the beneficiaries. She added that some beneficiaries with disabilities contributed N1.5 million as matching grants, demonstrating their confidence in the initiative.
Earlier, the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Agriculture, Tanko Tunga, said the VCDP had improved farmers’ access to quality inputs, modern farming practices, processing facilities and market linkages, leading to higher yields and better livelihoods.
Similarly, the State Programme Coordinator of the VCDP, Eunice Adgidzi, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and the state government for sustained support, pledging continued efforts to assist farmers in boosting production to combat hunger.
During the visit, Kyari also commissioned and inspected VCDP projects, including rice processing centres in the Kwanka and Ashangwa communities of Lafia Local Government Area.
