Over 17, 000 farmers, drawn from the 17 local government areas of Enugu State, have received free fertilisers to enhance their farming activities.
Aside from fertilisers, the farmers also received tilling machines, high-breed cassava stems, herbicides, among other farm inputs from the state government.
The state Commissioner for Information, Mr Aka Eze Aka, said, “One thousand farmers were drawn from each (of the 17 Local. Government areas).”
The initiative is part of the state’s En-Cares Programme under the Fadama Project. The distribution, which is taking place at the Okpara Square, is part of the official flag-off of inputs, assets and distribution and other social benefits to Ndi Enugu, an agro-scheme of Gov Peter Mbah aimed at empowering the farmers in the state.
The state Ministry of Agriculture, said, “Today is the first phase of the distribution. The next one will be at local government headquarters in the state. The selected farmers were drawn from the database of registered farmers in Enugu State.”
Some of the farmers that benefited from the scheme commended the scheme. Mike Ezeme, from Udenu LGA, said, “This is a better empowerment than sharing rice. We thank the state government and its partners. It will enhance our agro-productivity because bags of fertilisers cost a lot this farming season.”