Vice President Kashim Shettima has launched an Agricultural Empowerment Programme through his foundation in Kaduna State.
The initiative aims to assist farmers in the country by providing essential farming inputs and financial support, with the ultimate goal of boosting productivity and empowering farmers.
The Vice President acknowledged the crucial role of agriculture in Nigeria's economy, contributing one out of every five US Dollars to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and providing livelihoods for 36% of the labor force.
Despite the challenges faced by the agricultural sector, such as input shortages, conflicts, and outdated practices leading to low productivity, the Vice President recognized the agricultural potential in Kaduna State and emphasized the need for intervention to unlock the nation's agricultural potential.
Through the Kashim Shettima Foundation's Agricultural Empowerment Programme, the Vice President has pledged to support farmers in the state by providing farming inputs, technical guidance, and financial empowerment.
This includes cultivating 500 hectares of land, providing financial support to beneficiaries and farmers' cooperatives, and establishing full-fledged commercial farms.
The Federal Government is also committed to improving agriculture in Nigeria through various policies and programs aimed at enhancing food security and economic growth, such as the recent directives to release 42,000 metric tons of grains from strategic reserves and reduce the cost of agricultural inputs by 93% through subsidies.
The launch of the Agricultural Empowerment Programme in Kaduna State was met with support from Governor Uba Sani, who declared his administration's commitment to the initiative and expressed gratitude to the Vice President for honoring the state to pilot the project.
The event was attended by various stakeholders, including the Kaduna State Commissioner for Agriculture and representatives from Sterling Bank Ltd, who pledged their support for the initiative.
As the Agricultural Empowerment Programme takes off in Kaduna State, it serves as a beacon of hope for the youths, a catalyst for economic growth, and part of a solution to the multifaceted challenges facing the agricultural sector.
With the provision of 10 tractors, training for 50 farmers per state, and the provision of land, fertilizer, sprayers, planters, pesticides, herbicides, seeds, and working capital, the initiative is set to make a significant impact on the agricultural landscape in Nigeria.
