The Federal Government has significantly advanced agricultural support in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with the disbursement of grants to 9,170 farmers under the Fadama CARES program within the first year of the current administration. This milestone was announced by Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, the Minister of State for the FCT, during a flag-off ceremony for the fourth batch of grant distributions.
Dr. Mahmoud highlighted that the initiative has already benefited 3,150 farmers in the third batch, while the fourth batch will see an additional 6,020 new beneficiaries. This brings the total number of farmers supported to 9,170, representing a remarkable 216% increase compared to the 4,233 beneficiaries served by the program in the two years prior to this administration.
“This substantial increase in beneficiaries not only demonstrates our commitment to improving livelihoods but also reflects a significant achievement for both the state and the nation,” Mahmoud stated. She also noted that the program includes the provision of water and sanitation facilities to ten wet markets across the six area councils of the FCT.
The Fadama CARES program aims to enhance food security and ensure the smooth functioning of food supply chains by supporting the recovery and growth of agricultural activities, with a particular focus on women and unemployed youth engaged in agricultural value chains. Mahmoud emphasized that the program is designed to support the livelihoods of poor and vulnerable individuals in these sectors.
“This program aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, underscoring his administration’s commitment to sustainable food production and poverty reduction,” Mahmoud said. She pointed out that the initiative is part of a broader strategy to boost agricultural productivity and improve the livelihoods of vulnerable households in the FCT.
In addition to supporting farmers, the programme also focuses on youth empowerment. As part of this effort, starter packs have been provided to 94 trainees from the FCT – Leventis Foundation School of Agriculture, enabling them to apply their skills in real-world settings.
Mandate Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development, Lawan Kolo Geidam, provided further details on the fourth batch of disbursements. He reported that 82 farmers’ community associations across the six area councils of the FCT have been selected to benefit from the program. Over the past year, the initiative has distributed a substantial quantity of agricultural supplies, including 12,436 bags of NPK fertilizer, 6,218 bags of urea, 18,654 liters of agrochemicals, and 43,526 kg of assorted seeds. Additionally, 55,400 day-old chicks, 7,756 bags of poultry feeds, and 81,800 juveniles (catfish) along with 2,045 bags of fish feed have been provided.
Under the Disbursement Linked Indicator (DLI) 2.3, the program has also distributed 3,690 goats, 3,212 sets of farm assets (such as sprayers, personal protective equipment, and water pumps), 1,006 grinding machines, and 22 units of 2MT/hour multipurpose threshers. The initiative has also included the installation of water and sanitation facilities in ten wet markets across the area councils.
The event concluded with the distribution of essential farming items including fertilizers, seeds, agrochemicals, sprayers, and personal protective equipment, further supporting the farmers and underscoring the program’s impact on enhancing agricultural practices and boosting local economies.
