Enugu, October 3, 2025 – Farmers in Enugu State have hailed the Federal Government for distributing agricultural inputs and farm equipment through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), describing the intervention as a major step toward food security and rural empowerment.
The distribution, which took place on Thursday, saw smallholder farmers across Enugu receive herbicides, fertilizers, knapsack sprayers, solar water pumps, oil pail chisels, rice growth enhancers, organic fertilizers for cassava, and other essential farm tools. Beneficiaries included members of commodity associations, cooperative groups, farmers with special needs, and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Mr. Patrick Mbah, Chairman of the Graduate Farmers Association in Enugu, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government but urged authorities to address the recurring challenge of herders destroying farmlands. He recalled that in 2024, over 200 hectares of rice were lost to open grazing, stressing that the inputs would help farmers recover. “We will put them into proper use,” Mbah assured.
For Mr. Benedict Ekwochi, Vice Chairman of the People With Disabilities (PWDs) Farmers Association in Enugu, the intervention was nothing short of transformative. “I am overwhelmed with the inputs. This is powerful empowerment, and it will boost our production next year,” he said, highlighting the impact on inclusive farming.
Speaking during the distribution, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, explained that the initiative was part of government efforts to increase agricultural productivity, reduce hunger, and mitigate looming food crises. Represented by Mr. Ikemefuna Ezeaja, Head of the Ministry’s Information Department, Kyari emphasized that the agricultural sector is central to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the target of zero hunger.
The minister further noted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, under which food security was declared a national emergency in July 2023. “This administration has demonstrated total political will to transform the agriculture sector by facilitating agro-inputs and farm machinery to small-scale farmers, making food more available, accessible, and affordable,” Kyari said.
Kyari added that the Federal Government is fostering partnerships with the private sector and non-governmental organisations to strengthen food security, boost economic growth, and reduce poverty nationwide. He disclosed that short-term support mechanisms have also been designed to ensure farmers get essential inputs at affordable rates through a transparent and accountable process.
Earlier, the State Director of FMAFS in Enugu, Mrs. Ngozi Nwakeze, urged beneficiaries to extend the benefits to their cooperative members and ensure effective utilization of the items. She assured that the ministry would monitor implementation to guarantee bumper harvests in 2026.
The intervention comes at a time when Nigeria is intensifying efforts to address rising food prices, farmer-herder conflicts, and the effects of climate change on agriculture. Stakeholders believe that sustained support for smallholder farmers in states like Enugu is crucial to achieving national food self-sufficiency. GMTNewsng
