Nigeria Disburses Potato Stem Cuttings to Farmers in Niger State
No fewer than 600 potato farmers in Niger State are set to benefit from the Federal Government’s Potato Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) for the 2021 farming season.
This was revealed by the Desk Officer, Potato VCDP, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Adegoke Adedamola, during the inauguration of this year’s distribution of agricultural inputs to potato farmers in Minna.
“We have 600 potato farmers from Niger who will benefit from this Federal Government’s gesture. The farmers will get two types of improved varieties of orange-fleshed sweet potato for cultivation,” Adedamola stated.
He explained that 12,000 bundles of potato stem cuttings would be distributed equally to male and female farmers.
“This will ensure that 300 female farmers and 300 male farmers benefit from this arrangement,” he said.
According to him, the initiative was aimed at supporting the adoption of vitamin A-rich sweet potatoes which will improve people’s immune systems in the country.
On his part, Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Niger State, Mr Ahmadu Zegi, urged farmers to utilise the inputs to increase food production in the state and the country at large.
Also speaking at the event was the National President, Potato Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (PFAN), Mr Daniel Okafor who stated that the timely replacement of the rotten and incomplete potato stems would enable the farmers to get the required yield.
