The Federal Government has subsidised inputs for 500 farmers to produce 500 metric tonnes of wheat in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River state.
The PUNCH reports that the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, made the disclosure on Saturday during the distribution of the inputs, such as fertilisers, seeds, agrochemicals and others, to 500 farmers in Obudu LGA, Cross River state.
Kyari noted that both federal and Cross River State governments took the decision to subsidise the inputs by paying 75 and 25 per cent, respectively, to spare the farmers the pains of sourcing for funds.
Represented by the Chief Administrative Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Jessem Ubi, said the minister noted that the wheat cultivation was under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket programme.
According to him, while the government committed ₦167 million for the 500 wheat farmers in Obudu, the Cross River government paid ₦56 million, representing 75 and 25 per cent, respectively.
He said, “This payment also includes footing the bill for land preparation for the wheat farmers and the farmers are expected to cultivate a hectare each.”
The state, however, disclosed the plan to increase the cultivation from 500 hectares to 3000 hectares in July 2025.
