As part of efforts to boost agricultural production and food security drive of the Federal Government, the Adamawa State Government has set aside N2 billion meant to stimulate agricultural sector by providing farmers and youths with essential farm inputs.
The statement was made by M.D Jattau, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, during an interview with newsmen in Yola, Adamawa State Capital, saying the initiative was aimed 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 citizenry by providing essential support to farmers.
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Jattau further stated that the State Government had already launched a policy to develop 300 hectares of land in each local government areas which would be allocated to 300 youths to manage within 21 local governments, where fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides would be given to beneficiaries.
He said the Government would 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 would 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 State Government aimed to promote agricultural development and contribute to the State’s economic growth with the programme which had been implemented in six local government areas, namely, Madagali, Maiha, Michika, Hong, Ganye and Demsa.
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“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 staple food crashing, 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 much.
