The federal government will soon begin the distribution of N100 billion worth of fertilisers donated earlier by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The Minister of Agriculture, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, said the move is to prepare for the upcoming wet season farming.
He stated that the Federal Government was enhancing food security by increasing the domestic production of staple crops.
Kyari mentioned that the ministry would distribute 2.15 million bags of various fertilizers, provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to Nigerian farmers.
Kyari also disclosed that the ministry received a donation of 500 tractors from the John Deere Group to enhance mechanized farming, boost production, and secure food and nutrition.
He explained that this initiative was designed to stimulate farming activities and nutrition security, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s emergency declaration on food security.
The minister reiterated the Federal Government’s dedication to boosting food and nutrition security through increased mechanization.
He mentioned that the tractors would be accessible, available, and affordable for small, large-scale, and cooperative farmers nationwide.
Last year, the CBN donated over two million bags of fertilisers to the Ministry of Agriculture as part of efforts to combat food insecurity. However, this initiative was tagged by members of the public as part of a development finance program which the apex bank had earlier promised not to get engaged in.