The Federal Government has distributed free farm implements to 90 groups of smallholder farmers in Imo State as part of efforts to strengthen food security and enhance agricultural productivity.
The distribution exercise, held recently in Owerri, was coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. Minister Sen. Abubakar Kyari, represented by Dr. Iyere-Usiahon Perpetua, a director in the ministry, oversaw the delivery of tools and inputs aimed at facilitating sustainable farming practices.
According to the ministry, the initiative aligns with the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and national efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the target of zero hunger by making essential farm technology more accessible to smallholders.
Items distributed free of charge included power tillers, herbicides, liquid fertilisers, knapsack sprayers and water pumps. The implements were delivered through commodity associations, cooperatives, groups for farmers with special needs, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) involved in agricultural activities.
Kyari said the programme responded to high costs of farming inputs and sought to increase productive capacity, job creation, and reduce the cost of living for rural populations. He noted that President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency on food security in July 2023, and the administration has since rolled out several interventions to support farmers nationwide.
Dr. Alexander Onwumere, Permanent Secretary of the Imo State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, urged farmers to use the implements responsibly and called for the sustained continuation of the programme. Farmers were also warned against selling the tools, with penalties threatened for anyone found doing so.
Representatives of farmers, including Chief Tobias Iwu of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and Mr. Chinedu Madu of the Umudioka Multipurpose Cooperative in Orlu, thanked the government for the timely support and urged continued efforts to strengthen agricultural productivity.
The intervention is part of a broader federal strategy to improve agricultural outcomes and address food system challenges, complementing other initiatives such as mechanisation programmes, input distribution schemes, and partnerships aiming to expand production capacity and resilience in the sector.
