The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has recently taken a significant step in empowering 900 accredited farmers from Ebonyi and Osun States by providing them with essential agricultural resources. This initiative is part of NALDA’s broader mission to support and enhance the agricultural capabilities of farmers across the nation.
By distributing these agricultural inputs, the organization aims to help these farmers optimize their crop cultivation processes, leading to higher yields and, ultimately, increased food production. This initiative not only benefits the individual farmers but also contributes to the overall improvement of food security in Nigeria.
During the implementation of NALDA’s agricultural empowerment program, 900 beneficiaries received specialized packages designed to enhance their farming capabilities. These packages included NALDA’s branded bags filled with high-quality fertilizers, herbicides, advanced rice, maize, and bean seeds. The distribution of these resources was strategically based on the unique advantages of each participating state.
In a recent address to the farmers in Ebonyi and Osun States, Prince Paul Ikonne, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NALDA, emphasized the program’s alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of promoting self-sufficiency in food production. Ikonne, represented by Lucius Ndimele, Head of Soil Science Department in NALDA, further assured the farmers that the organization remains committed to extending these valuable resources to farmers across all states in the federation.
During the distribution event, Prince Paul Ikonne, NALDA’s Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, highlighted the primary goal of this initiative, which is to support genuine farmers in the grassroots to boost overall food production in Nigeria. He explained that the government is committed to enabling farmers to produce their own food by providing essential resources.
Ikonne further elaborated that the purpose of these efforts is to emphasize the importance of farming and contribute to the nation’s self-sufficiency in food production, ultimately leading to more affordable food items in the markets.
In Ebonyi State, 400 beneficiaries, consisting of 200 maize and 200 rice farmers, were chosen from 10 communities within the Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency. These beneficiaries, predominantly women and youths, gathered in Ishiagu Community, Ivo Local Government Area, to receive their empowerment packages from NALDA officials.
Similarly, in Osun State, 500 farmers representing all Local Government Areas were empowered with maize and bean seeds in Oshogbo, the state capital. Similar to the process in Ebonyi State, farmers in Osun State were selected based on their farm size for accurate documentation on the NALDA website, ensuring maximum results from the distributed inputs.
This empowerment program, led by NALDA, aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to encourage farmers across the nation to produce food and contribute to the achievement of food sufficiency in the country.
