6,020 FCT Farmers Benefit From 4th Batch Fadama CARES Inputs

6020 Farmers in the Nation’s Capital have benefitted from the 4th batch of FCT Fadama CARES grant, in the form of farm inputs.

At the flag off of the disbursement of the farm inputs in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud said the programme is targeted at addressing hunger and food shortage in the territory.

She hinted that the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike has taken the request of Gwagwalada people to rehabilitate the market road to President Tinubu, and an approval has been granted; assuring that procurement process will soon commence .

She explained that the programme was also designed to support the recovery of livelihood activities of poor and vulnerable persons in the Agro- sector with special consideration to women and unemployed youths.

She revealed that 3,150 farmers had benefited earlier under the third batch, making it a total of 9,170 beneficiaries in the territory within one year of this present administration.

The Minister expressed optimism, that the gesture will enhance food security and functioning of food supply chain in the FCT.

According to Dr Mahmoud, the figure indicates an achievement of 216% when compared to the disbursement figure of 4,233 recorded by the programme in about 2 years prior to the coming of this administration.

“This is in addition to the provision of water and sanitation facilities in 10 Markets located across the 6 area councils of the FCT”.

“The programme is deliberately designed to support the recovery of livelihood activities of poor and vulnerable persons engaged in agricultural value chains with special consideration to women and unemployed youths.

“Its implementation will be anchored on the World Bank community driven development approach for deployment of programme investments at the community level”.

“It is in line with Mr. President’s strategic vision that the FCT Administration under the leadership of the Hon. Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, is committing significant resources towards ensuring sustainable agricultural production as a panacea for poverty reduction and improvement of livelihoods for poor and vulnerable agricultural households in the FCT through the FCT Fadama CARES programme.

“This indeed is a clear indication of our administration’s commitment towards ensuring sustainable agricultural production for the attainment of food and nutritional security, poverty reduction and improved livelihoods,” Mahmoud said.

Earlier, the Mandate Secretary Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Lawan Kolo Geidam, explained that the beneficiaries were selected from the 82 farmers community associations across the 6 Area Councils.

Also, the Mandate Secretary FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Dr Adedayo Benjamins- Laniyi said the disbursement of the grant to farmers, with women inclusive, is a testament that the present administration is determined to carry everyone along.

Similarly, the Mandate Secretary, FCT Area Council Services Secretariat, Bitrus Garki, encouraged the beneficiaries not to sell the items, but rather, put them to good use towards achieving increased food crops in the territory.

In their seperate goodwill messages, the Vice Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Saidu Zuba, and the Agumah of Gwagwalada, Muhammadu Magaji decried the deplorable state of the Gwagwalada Market-Old Kutunku road, and appealed to the FCT Minister to come to their aid.

The items distributed are fertilizers, seeds, agrochemicals, sprayers, personal protective equipment for crop farmers, Day old chicks, feeds to poultry farmers, grinding machines for women processors, juveniles and feeds for fish farmers and goats for livestock farmers.

Remi Johnson, Edited By Shakira Alabi