The Anambra State Government is set to commence the distribution of at least 20,000 organic fertilizers to farmers throughout the 326 wards in the state, aiming to enhance food production within the region.
This according to the States Ministry of Information, was the outcome of a one-day stakeholders meeting organised by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Also, each of the wards is expected to receive an average of 55 bags of organic fertilizers for onward distribution to beneficiaries for farming purposes.
The Commissioner For Agriculture, Dr Forster Ihejiofor, during the meeting said the federal government in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria had donated 9,000 bags of inorganic fertilizers to the state.
He further stated that the state government, having embraced Regenerative Agriculture as a policy alongside its dedication to promoting the health and well-being of its citizens, has made inorganic fertilizers available to rice farmers.
He indicated that the Ayamelum Local Government, where rice farmers have benefited from the inorganic fertilizers, will be allocated 20 organic fertilizers per ward, while other wards throughout the state will each receive 55 bags.
He said:”We agreed that the inorganic fertilizers should be given to rice farmers at a nominal price. And the money realised from that nominal sale to those farmers will be channelled toward procurement of organic fertilizers or biological enhancers that will be in sync with the agricultural policy of the state.
“We are here to discuss how to produce food and make it truly abundant, how to produce food that is indeed food not the one that will appear as food but be poison to our system.”
The Commissioner expressed satisfaction and relief that the state government acknowledged the significant advantages of the policy, encouraging Councillors to facilitate the effective execution of the initiative aimed at assisting farming households within the state.
He emphasized that understanding proper consumption and appropriate agricultural methods would enhance awareness of the nutritional value of food.