The Principal Information Officer of Agriculture and Rural Development on Tuesday revealed that the Federal Government has started distributing subsidised farm inputs to small holder farmers across the North Western States of the country.

The officer noted that the distribution was carried out by the ministry through the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agropocket (NAGS-AP).

 Obe said the initiative would boost food and nutrition security, attract private sector investment, reduce post-harvest losses, as well as add value to local agricultural produce.

Speaking at the distribution event, the Governor of Kano State Abba Yusuf  in  Bunkure Local Government Area, said the scheme was being implemented through the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme Phase One (ATASP-1) of the Federal Government.

 He said ATASP-1 was funded by African Development Bank as a Pilot phase to pave way for successful implementation of the forthcoming Policy Based Operation.

” The Policy Based Operation (PBO) was a Sector Budget Support (SBS) operation prepared under the African Emergency Food Production Facility (AEFPF).

 “It is funded through a loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to be Implemented across the 36 states of the Federation and FCT for a period of two years beginning from 2023,“`he said.

 The governor who was represented by his Deputy, Mr  Aminu Abdussalem, said that the objective of NAGS-AP was synonymous with the objectives of ATASP-1.

 Yusuf said that the benefiting communities included, Bunkere Rano, Bagwai, Dawakin Kudu, Bebeji, and Garun Malam Local Government Areas of the State.