A global NGO, ‘SYNERGOS’, on Wednesday distributed farm inputs to some farmer cooperatives in Yobe state.
Mr Muhammed Sheriff, the Northeast Project Coordinator, disclosed this while presenting the inputs to the beneficiaries drawn from five local government areas of the state.
“This intervention targets five Farmers Producer Organisations, known as Farmer Cooperatives, one each from the five Rural Resilience Activity Project (RRA) implementing LGAs in Yobe state.
“The LGAs are Nguru, Jakusko, Potiskum, Nangere and Damaturu.”
Sheriff said SYNERGOS hoped to provide linkage support to over 150 members of these Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO).
He added that had SYNERGOS had identified and supported five FPOs with a value pack comprising of maize seeds, pesticides, fertilizer and liquid organic fertilizer.
He said among them were two women group, one male group, one male youth group and one female youth group.
He said the groups had been sampled to test run the efficacy of the products.
“The farmer groups will develop demonstration farms across each of the five LGAs.”
The maize seed according to him was an improved variety with guaranteed enhanced production while the organic fertilizer was cheap.
“It also improving soil structure, texture and aeration, increasing the soils water retention abilities and stimulating healthy root development.”, Sheriff explained.
In her remarks, Dr Mairo Amshi, the Yobe state Commissioner Ministry of Agriculture commended the effort of SYNERGOS in assisting farmers in the the state.
She also reiterated the state government’s commitment to work closely with any organisation that intends to improve the capacity of Yobe state farmers.
One of the beneficiaries, Hajiya Maryam Yakubu of Women Farmers Cooperative said the inputs would encourage women farmers and boost their productivity.
Another beneficiary, Malam AbdulHamid Muhammad said words could express him how he felt about the support.
He added that the support would not have come at a better time now.
