Agriculture
THE Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has distributed improved castor seeds to small scale holder farmers in Niger.
Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security made this known on Friday during the distribution of the seeds in Minna, Niger.
Kyari, represented by Hajiya Afusat Babalola, Deputy Director, Castor Oil Value Chain in the ministry, said the free gift was to boost the production of the commodity in the state and the country.
According to him, the gesture is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda geared toward repositioning the country’s fortunes.
He said that agriculture was a top priority of the government, saying that the ministry was firmly committed to supporting agricultural activities.
”The ministry has invested much in interventions to boost crop production in realisation of its numerous benefits to our small scale holders’ farmers,” he said.
The minister said that the ministry had procured a total of 1,600kg of castor foundation seeds to be distributed to farmers in Niger and Kaduna states to boost production.
He urged the benefitting farmers to utilise the opportunity to boost production and increase their income for a better livelihood.
“The ministry remains resolute in taking our agriculture to the Promise Land where our farmers will be very proud of their profession”, he said.
Earlier, Dr Ladan Suleiman, State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, assured the farmers that the ministry would link them up to off-takers after harvest.
Suleiman explained that castor oil was good in about thirteen ways including transformer, air crafts and as hair oil.
Malam Hassan Audu, a benefiting farmer, appreciated the federal government for the gesture.
Audu appealed to the government to assist them with crushing machines to help them process the commodity.(NAN)
19th Julu, 2024.
C.E.
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