Adamawa govt to invest N2bn to support farmers, youths to tackle food insecurity

The Adamawa State government has disclosed that it would invest N2 billion to boost the agricultural sector by providing farmers and youths with essential farm inputs as they prepare for the forthcoming farming season in the state.

This disclosure was made by M.D Jattau, the state commissioner for Agriculture, during an interview with newsmen in Yola that the initiative aims to enhance food production, promote self-reliance, and empower local farmers.

According to him, the initiative is expected to increase crop yields, improve food security, and enhance the livelihoods of the citizenry by providing essential support to farmers.

Jattau further stated that the state government has already launched a policy to develop 300 hectares of land in each local government, to allocated to 300 youths to manage within the 21 local governments, where fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides will be given to them.

He said: We will support farmers with improved seedlings and tools amounted to two billion naira, and whatever yield they realise will be theirs, nobody will be tasked to remit.”

He maintained that farmers would also be taught climate smart agriculture where they will be equipped with the practices needed for bountiful harvest such as timing of planting, fertilizer application, how to test the soil in oder to know the soil content and the quantity or quality of fertilizer to apply to give optimum yield and also how to manage their farms in accordance with the kind of crops in their farms.

He noted that the government aims to promote agricultural development and contribute to the state’s economic growth, the programme has been implemented in six local government areas, Madagali, Maiha, Michika, Hong, Ganye and Demsa.

“All the violence we are experiencing is as a result of hunger. A hungry man is an angry man and can do anything when given a stipend. So many youths want to go to the farm, but they lack capital. That’s why Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintri has come out to intervene by providing them with inputs.

“By the time there’s food on their table, that means we have been able to curb a monster called hunger, another problem is solved which is food security,” he said.

While speaking on the crashing of prices of staple food, Jattau attributed it to a common economic principle which states that the higher the demand, the higher the price, the lower the demand, the lower the price, stressing that there are fewer buyers now in the market and the suppliers are many.

He noted that farmers still have enough to eat with their families, and no farmer would want to sell them now because they are fully aware that they will not break even.

He said that the government has supported farmers in different ways such as supplying fertilizers, seeds and pesticides, “this time around farmers will be given this support in time, 10000 bags of assorted fertilizers are already on ground and will be supplied.”

He added that the government is in partnership with NGOs with similar programmes and will be directed to other local governments that are yet to benefit from the programme.
He pointed out that the support came from the North East Development Commission (NEDC) that provided handheld machineries, harvesters, planters, among others.