Nigerian Lawmakers to Continue Supporting Farmers— Sen Mustapha

News in Brief:

—Kwara farmers have received ₦1.5 billion worth of fertilisers, equipment and other farm inputs to improve productivity.

—Senator Mustapha says continued support for farmers is essential to strengthening food security in Nigeria.

The National Assembly has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting farmers through targeted interventions to increase agricultural productivity and improve food security across Nigeria.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Production Services and Rural Development, Senator Saliu Mustapha, committed to distributing agricultural inputs worth ₦1.5 billion to smallholder farmers in Kwara State.

Farmers Receive Fertilisers and Equipment

The intervention, launched in Ilorin, included the distribution of essential farming materials designed to improve beneficiaries' production capacity.

Items provided include 5,000 bags of NPK fertiliser, 2,500 bags of UREA fertiliser, 1,000 knapsack sprayers, 250 power tillers and 500 water pumps.

The support was targeted at farmers and agricultural groups across the Kwara Central Senatorial District.

Initiative Targets Higher Farm Output

Senator Mustapha said the programme was part of efforts to ensure farmers have timely access to inputs required for successful farming seasons.

Represented by the Director-General of his constituency office, Alhaji Adebayo Ambali, the senator explained that the intervention would help improve crop yields and increase food production.

He noted that the initiative supports broader government efforts to achieve national food security through improved agricultural productivity.

Farmers Groups Benefit From Intervention

Beneficiaries included members of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Rice Farmers Association, fish farmers’ groups, women agricultural organisations and other farming associations.

Individual farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs within the senatorial district also benefited from the distribution.

Senator Mustapha urged recipients to use the inputs responsibly to maximise production and improve their livelihoods.

The Kwara State Chairman of AFAN, Shuaibu Ajibola Salman, praised the intervention, describing it as timely and beneficial to farmers. He said access to quality fertiliser and equipment would help farmers increase output and contribute to efforts to reduce food shortages.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Rice Farmers Association of Kwara State, Mallam Soliu Mohammed, appreciated the senator’s continued support for rice farmers and other agricultural stakeholders.

The intervention highlights growing efforts by government institutions and stakeholders to strengthen farming communities through improved access to resources.

Agriculture remains a key sector for employment creation, rural development and national food security, with increased support for smallholder farmers seen as critical to expanding production.