As part of efforts to enhance food production, the Federal Government has distributed 18,000 bags of fertilisers to farmers in Edo State for the 2024 farming season.
Mr. Bako Dogwo, the State Chairman of the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), announced this on Tuesday during a meeting with association members in Benin.
Dogwo revealed that the 18,000 bags, equivalent to 30 trucks, are part of the 1.652 million bags allocated to farmers nationwide. He stated that the Federal Government has covered over 80 percent of its counterpart funding, leaving farmers to pay at least 10 percent of the cost of the fertiliser.
“The Federal Government is providing substantial inputs to Edo State, including fertilisers. They have paid 80 percent of the cost. Although it’s supposed to be counterpart funding, the state government has yet to pay its share. Therefore, it is up to us farmers to pay at least 10 percent to receive the fertilisers when they arrive. For instance, if the cost of fertiliser is N20,000, we will pay N10,000,” Dogwo explained.
Additionally, Dogwo mentioned that the Central Bank of Nigeria has approved the delivery of more fertilisers to the state, along with chemicals and other inputs such as cassava stems, maize, and rice for planting.
He emphasised that the fertilisers are intended for genuine farmers, not “portfolio farmers.”
“The Federal Government is determined to ensure that every real farmer benefits from its programs. We are talking about true farmers, not those who only claim to be farmers. AFAN members are all genuine farmers, which is why we reject any attempts to profile farmers in the state. Only we know who the real farmers are and where they farm,” Dogwo asserted.
Dogwo noted that AFAN consists of more than 40,000 registered farmers and encouraged unregistered farmers to join the association, warning that registration might become more costly in the future.
He also urged members to encourage women to join any of the association’s affiliates, highlighting that membership provides access to farming techniques, inputs, and other intervention programs.
