The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has distributed agricultural inputs to farmers in Kwara State as part of efforts to boost food production and address the prevailing food crisis.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abba Kyari, said the objective of the distribution was to support farmers and enhance food production across the country.

Kyari, who was represented by the Deputy Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Abdulmalik Abdulganiy, said it was the resolve of the present administration to achieve the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The minister said, "We want to attain the objectives of the SDG, especially that of zero hunger, while also mitigating the food crisis in the country."

He explained that the items distributed included power tillers, herbicides, liquid fertilisers, knapsack sprayers and water pumps, which were given to farmers through commodity associations, cooperative groups, farmers with special needs and internally displaced persons.

Kyari added that the inputs were distributed to farmers at no cost and urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of them to increase food production for the nation.

He said the federal and state governments continually engage relevant channels and stakeholders to address issues affecting national food security objectives.

He stated, "We also remain committed to promoting and creating synergies with non-governmental organisations and the private sector to enhance efforts at ensuring food security, economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction.

"We also considered the implementation of short-term plans and support mechanisms to make essential farm inputs more affordable and accessible to farmers through a transparent and accountable process.

"Our foremost concern is the facilitation of agro-inputs and basic farm machinery to small-scale farmers, who are constrained by the high market cost of these essential inputs and thus need assistance."

The State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Faith Agu, expressed optimism that the exercise would yield positive results and bring meaningful impact to the target communities.

The Kwara State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Afees Abolore, said the intervention came at the right time, noting that the state was on the verge of replicating the programme for dry season farming to ensure food sufficiency.

Abolore added that the state's collaboration with the federal government remained intact, expressing Kwara's readiness to continue to synergise with the federal ministry to provide the needed support.

One of the beneficiaries, representing the Nigeria Association of Women in Agriculture, Aisha Oyebanji, described the intervention as a beacon and expressed appreciation that women farmers were not left out of the support.

She said the gesture, carried out over the years, helps build the rural economy and improve the standard of living of farmers.

Another beneficiary, Mukaila Salaudeen, representing the Amanah Farmers and Grains Sellers Association of Nigeria, Kwara State chapter, urged the ministry to ensure that real farmers benefit from any intervention of the government.

Mr Salaudeen said that the government should ensure that the inputs reach every nook and cranny of the state.