By Samuel Torlumun
The Ministry of Agriculture in Nasarawa State has applauded Vintor Global Enterprises for its empowering 536 farmers in Nasarawa, Taraba, Benue and FCT. through its project tagged Farmers’ Friends. The state’s commissioner of Agriculture, Professor Alanana Otaki said this at the company’s Farmers Day Celebration in Lafia, recently.
Represented by the Director of Adminstration, Solomon Ombugadu, the commissioner noted that empowering farmers at the critical time Nigeria is in facing food shortage will go a long way to boost food security not only the states were the project is domiciled, but the country at large.
He added that the ministry is pleased with the quality of training, workshops, provision of varieties of farm inputs, tractor hiring service at subsidized rates and loan facilities for farmers, which he noted is a sure way to boosting food production in Nasarawa and environs.
The commissioner said, the Governor Sule administration has made agriculture a priority and will partner with critical stakeholders in the sector to make it succeed.
In a similar vein, the Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, (AFAN), Nasarawa State, Danjuma Adamu said the project is the first of its kind in the state, coming at the time farmers need it most. He stated that as an agrarian state, Nasarawa farmers are more organized this season to benefit from the project.
He thanked Vintor Group for the procurement of tractor hiring services at affordable cost for farmers. He called on farmers to take advantage of the empowerment to engage in profitable farming to better their lots.
Responding, Sarkin Noma, Nasarawa State Aliyu Usman said there will be more sensitization of farmers this coming farming season to better accessibility for the project. He said already farmers in the state are posed to actively participate hence all the groupings are ongoing.
Earlier in his speech the Project Direct, Vincent Iyev had explained that the project is meant to alleviate the plight of farmers through provision of modern farming inputs to the farmers during farming season.
The wide varieties of agricultural services being rendered under the project includes, training of farmers on modern farming techniques, pre-seasonal training workshop for farmers through extension workers, provision of farm inputs such as herbicides, fertilizer, sprayers, rain boots, raincoats and hand gloves. Other services are provision of tractors to farmers at cheaper rates, training on diagnostic survey for the identification of agricultural problems and potentials among others.
Mr Iyev also called on the government of Nasarawa State led Governor Abdullahi Sule to aid the organization financially, to enable it achieve the target of assisting 1000 farmers this farming season.
