By Fatima Muraina

No fewer than 40 maize farmers in Ondo state have benefited from the Federal Government’s emergency empowerment for farmers and extension agents with starter- packs (inputs) on Monday in Akure.

The farmers who were selected went home with 10kg maize seeds, three litres of post emergence herbicides, three liters of pre-emergence herbicides and fertilizer to improve their farm yields.

Declaring the distribution open, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Alhaji Mohammed Kyari who was represented by the state Coordinator of the ministry, Mr Akerm Ogundeko said the farmers were earlier trained on modern farm technology before they were selected for the emergency empowerment.

He said the free inputs distributed are not for sales, but that farmers should make use of them to cultivate their farms.

He appealed to those who are yet to benefit to wait for the next batch, noting that the programme is a continuous one.

The Ondo state Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Olayato Aribo who was represented by the Programme Manager of Agricultural Development Programme, Mr Babasola Adeniyan, expressed the State’s appreciation for being recognized and for farmers benefitting from the inputs.

He called on the beneficiaries to utilize the inputs as stated and also use the fertilizer to improve the fertility of their soil, use herbicides to control the weeds so as to boost their farm yields for the farming year.

Beneficiaries who spoke with The Hope appreciated the Federal government’s gesture, which they said came at the right time.

Mr Emmanuel Adebanji said he has been expecting it because he had prepared his farm for cultivation.

Also, Mr Lamidi Wasiu Adekunle described the empowerment as a good gesture which came at the right time, saying the gesture has relieved him of the worries because he cannot afford the price of fertilizer and the herbicides.