The Federal Government has flagged off the food security and agriculture mechanisation drive to assist farmers across the country. The programme, flagged off by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, is also an empowerment scheme to assist farmers.

The scheme – Kashim Shettima Foundation’s Agricultural Empowerment Programme was launched in Kaduna State to herald the commencement of distribution of tractors, seeds, fertilisers, herbicides, and other essential farming inputs to beneficiary farmers for the 2024 farming season.

Speaking during the launch, Shettima said the gesture is in honour of the nation’s resilient farmers, assuring that the Tinubu administration will take action to unlock the nation’s agricultural potential and provide essential support to farmers.

He stressed the crucial role of agriculture on the country’s economy, highlighting its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and its significance as the primary employer for millions of citizens.

“Agriculture has always been a strong pillar of Nigeria’s economy, contributing one out of every five US dollars to our GDP and providing livelihoods and sustenance for 36 per cent of the labour force,” he stated.

The Vice President outlined the challenges facing the sector, including input shortages, lack of access to finance, conflicts, and outdated practices leading to low productivity.

Despite these hurdles, he, however, recognised the state’s agricultural potential, emphasising the need for intervention to boost productivity and empower the farmers.

Shettima pledged to cultivate 500 hectares of land through the programme and provide financial support to beneficiaries and farmer cooperatives to establish commercial farms.

He said: “Through this initiative, I commit to supporting the cultivation of 500 hectares of land in Kaduna through the provision of farming inputs, which are seed-applied, soil-applied and foliar applied alongside technical direction, extension and good agronomic practices support to beneficiaries of this initiative.

“Financial empowerment will also be provided to the tune of N100,000 per month to each of the 50 beneficiaries for four months, which covers the planting period, after which farmer cooperatives (comprising 50 farmers) will be given startup funds of up to N30m to establish full-fledged commercial farms.”

Earlier, Governor Uba Sani had declared his administration’s support to the initiative, expressing gratitude to the Vice President for honouring the state to pilot the project.

Represented by his Deputy, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, Sani emphasised that the state identifies with the initiative and would do all it could to support its implementation.

On his part, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mallam Murtala Dabo, said the scheme is a beacon of hope to the youths, a catalyst for economic growth, and part of a solution to the multifaceted challenges facing the agricultural sector.

Also, the Chairman of the Kashim Shettima Foundation, Baba Kachallah explained that the initiative would take off with the provision of 10 tractors, adding that 50 farmers per state would be trained to become full-fledged agropreneurs, adding that they will be provided land, fertiliser, sprayers, planters, pesticides, herbicides, seeds and working capital ahead of the beginning of the rainy season.