FG, IFAD Empower 1,918 Nasarawa Farmers With Improved Inputs, Tricycles To Boost Food Security

Federal Government and IFAD distribute improved inputs and tricycles to 1,918 Nasarawa farmers to strengthen food security and productivity.

In a proactive move to strengthen rural livelyhood and food security, the Federal Government of Nigeria in synergy with the International Fund for Agricultural Development, has distributed improved farm inputs and 22 tricycles to 1,918 farmers in Nasarawa State through its Value Chain Development Programme.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony for the distribution of Farm inputs and Tricycles for 2026 Wet Season Farming in Lafia, commissioner for Agriculture, Nasarawa state, Umaru Tanko-Tunga, described agriculture as the backbone of the state’s economy and reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to supporting farmers through strategic partnerships.

According to him, the distribution of quality farm inputs and tricycles would improve productivity, reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen the rice and cassava value chains across the state.

He, however, disclosed that about 31 rice farmer organisations and 23 cassava farmer organisations, drawn from 76 farmer groups, would benefit from the intervention.

He revealed that the distribution included 9,750 kilograms of certified rice seeds, 7,000 bundles of improved cassava stems, 670 litres of herbicides, 1,340 bags of NPK fertilizer, 390 bags of Urea fertilizer, and 22 tricycles for farmers.

Tunga, however, pledged the state government’s continued partnership with the Federal Government and other relevant stakeholders in the agricultural sector to improve productivity and strengthen value chains across the state.

The representative of the National Program Coordinator of VCDP, Mr. Musa Dalą, applauded the Nasarawa State Government for its tremendous support to the program, particularly its prompt payment of counterpart funding, which has helped sustain the initiative in the state and called on farmers to make good use of the inputs.

Several speakers delivered goodwill messages, including the Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Dr. Peter Akwe, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Hajiya Salamatu Osaze who both appreciated VCDP for supporting farmers in Nasarawa State, which they noted had undeniably improved their livelihoods.

The State Coordinator of VCDP, Dr. Eunice Adigizi, said the program is geared toward improving agricultural productivity, enhancing rural livelihoods, and strengthening food security, among other interventions adding that thousands of smallholder farmers have benefited from the program in the state.

Some of the benefiting farmers from various local government areas expressed gratitude to VCDP for the life-changing opportunity and promised to make adequate use of the farm inputs for their intended purpose.

The event concluded with the presentation of a ₦1.2 million cheque to persons with disabilities from Doma, as well as the official flag-off of the farm inputs.

Our correspondent reports that the event was organized by the Value Chain Development Program VCDP, with support from the Federal Government and IFAD, the flag-off ceremony for the distribution of farm inputs and tricycles marked the beginning of the 2026 wet season farming.

The empowerment exercise, which drew participants from five local government areas, was held at the VCDP office, NADP Complex, Lafia.