No fewer than 12,000 farmers across Edo State’s three senatorial districts are expected to benefit from the Federal Government’s free fertiliser distribution programme under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Edo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Jerry Uwangue, disclosed this on Wednesday in Benin during the inauguration of the distribution programme.
Uwangue said the fertilisers would be distributed exclusively to farmers profiled by the state government to ensure that only genuine beneficiaries receive the intervention.
He explained that the profiling exercise, conducted across the state’s 18 local government areas on the directive of Governor Monday Okpebholo, was aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in the distribution process.
According to him, more than 12,000 farmers have already been profiled, while the exercise is ongoing to register additional eligible beneficiaries.
“The distribution process will be transparent. The fertilisers will be openly distributed, and the exercise will be televised to ensure accountability,” he said.
The commissioner advised farmers to remain in their respective local government areas, noting that agricultural desk officers in each council would coordinate the distribution.
He added that the exercise would commence next week, with the fertilisers delivered directly to verified farmers.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim, represented by the Assistant General Manager of the agency, Mr. Lecky Dauda, said the initiative reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening food security.
He noted that the programme would also improve rural livelihoods and encourage sustainable agricultural practices across the country.
Earlier, the Edo State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mrs. Patricia Imade, commended President Bola Tinubu for the initiative, expressing confidence that it would enhance farmers’ productivity and boost agricultural output across the state.
Source:NAN
