The government of Ekiti State has approved the sum of N150 Million for the procurement and distribution of improved seeds, agrochemicals, and fertilizers amongst others to farmers in the State.
Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, the State Commissioner for Information, revealed this in a statement after the State Executive Council meeting held at the Executive Council Chamber, New Governor’s Office in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, 30th May, 2024.
Ekiti News reports that the gesture is to support the agricultural sector of the State by actively stimulating the production side of the value chain through provision of inputs to farmers as well as serve as the State’s contribution to the Federal Government Agro Pocket Scheme, a programme aimed at supporting national agriculture growth and increasing food production.
Inputs to be distributed include maize, rice, cocoa, cassava stalks, improved yam setts, oil palm, cashew and agrochemicals.
Recall that the State Government had earlier approved a sum of N450million as the State’s support for the scheme but due to the delay from the Federal Government on input distribution, the approval of the N150million is to ensure prompt and timely distribution of the inputs while the remaining N300million will be reserved for procurement of fertilizer in case the State is not able to get the consignment requested for from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.