ibironkeeniola 
The Federal Government has extended its input distribution support exercise to smallholder farmers in Kogi State.
The state joins Kaduna, Oyo, among other states, where the exercise from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has reached.
The input distribution support is aimed at smallholder farmers for the 2020 wet season planting which just kick-started.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammed Sabo Nanono, flagged-off the Kogi State exercise on Thursday.
Nanono launched the exercise alongside the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Intervention, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouk, and the Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Dr Edward Onoja, among others.
Speaking during the exercise, Nanono noted that the support was a part of the ministry’s efforts towards ensuring that Nigeria is self-sufficient in food production despite the impact of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The exercise is also aimed at supporting smallholder farmers with various inputs, especially the improved seed varieties of selected priority crops.
“These seeds are being given to the beneficiaries free of charge while other inputs are given at 75% subsidy,” Nanono said.
The minister listed the seeds distributed to include seeds for cashew, sesame, soybeans, rice, maize, wheat, cocoa and potatoes.
Of these, at least 38,142kg of improved cashew seeds were targeted at 3,798 cashew farmers, he disclosed.
On the other hand, 27,000kg of certified sesame seeds were targeted at 5,400 sesame farmers, while 50,000kg of soybean seeds to soybeans farmers.
Also, 12,000 bundles of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) were to be distributed among 1,200 farmers.
In addition, some 15,000 sachets of Red Force fungicide, 3,000 sachets of glory crop protection, 580 litres of soil amender, and 500 litres of organic fertilizer were targeted at potato farmers.
AgroNigeria gathered that the inputs were handed over to the beneficiaries through farmer, women and youth associations, groups and cooperatives.
SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA