By Fatima Muraina
Farmers have expressed cautious optimism over the Federal Government’s ongoing distribution of fertilisers and seedlings to 500,000 farmers nationwide through the Bank of Agriculture, BoA, while urging authorities to accelerate the exercise to ensure beneficiaries receive the inputs before the planting season ends.
The initiative, aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and enhancing food security, has elicited mixed reactions from farming groups, with some stakeholders saying awareness of the programme remains low in parts of the country.
The chairman of the Ondo States chapter of the Cassava Farmers Association of Nigeria, CFAN, Mr. Tayo Abiodun, described the intervention as a welcome development, stressing that farmers urgently need fertiliser to improve crop yields.
He said, “If they can give farmers, it will be okay because we need fertiliser. We will distribute it to our farmers because we have our share in it.”
However, Abiodun expressed concern that not all eligible farmers may benefit from the programme, noting that distribution is being coordinated through commodity associations.
He added, “It is likely that some farmers will not get it. In my own area in Ogbese, we have not received anything yet. I wasn’t aware of the distribution until now, and I don’t think many farmers in Ondo State are aware of the fertiliser programme.”
Similarly, a maize farmer, Mr. Kayode Akinrinnade, clarified that the distribution process is being handled through recognised commodity associations rather than political structures.
Akinmade enthused, “They told all the commodity associations to inform their farmers. They did not say any political party should register with the BoA. They sent the registration link to us, and we completed the process with the BoA. It is not political.”
He, however, appealed to the authorities to fast-track the distribution, warning that delays could undermine the programme’s intended impact.
He added, “We are urging them to do it quickly if they truly want farmers to benefit because time is running out.”
The Federal Government is currently distributing fertilisers and improved seedlings to 500,000 farmers across the country through the Bank of Agriculture as part of efforts to increase food production, reduce production costs and support farmers during the current planting season.
While farmers have welcomed the intervention, many believe timely delivery and wider awareness will be critical to ensuring the programme achieves its objectives.