BENIN CITY — The Federal Government has empowered 25 maize farmers across Edo State with farm inputs and modern agricultural training as part of efforts to boost food security in the country.

The intervention, carried out by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, included the distribution of herbicides, sprayers, and hybrid certified maize seeds, alongside training on best modern farming practices.

Mrs. Imade Patricia, the State Coordinator of the ministry, explained that the exercise followed President Bola Tinubu’s deliberate initiative to strengthen food production nationwide, particularly maize cultivation.

She said the programme adopted a “train-the-trainer” model, which would see the 25 empowered farmers replicate the training in their respective local government areas and communities.

“By this approach, hundreds of thousands of maize farmers across Edo are expected to benefit,” she said.

“We have trained and empowered these farmers with fortified and hybrid inputs. They will now go back to train others so that the programme has a multiplier effect.”

Patricia said the training covered modern maize cultivation techniques, herbicide application, storage, and marketing.

She noted that many farmers still lacked proper knowledge of applying technologies even when available, hence the renewed government effort to close the gap.

She also urged farmers to see agriculture as a business rather than subsistence, stressing that all Federal Government agricultural programmes and support would continue to reach genuine farmers in Edo.

The State Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Alhaji Bako Dogwo, commended the initiative, but urged the Federal and State governments to partner directly with the association which has accurate data of farmers, rather than what he described as “political and portfolio farmers.”

Also speaking, Mr. Charles Ezendu, a Principal Agric Officer at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, trained the beneficiaries on maize varieties, environmental requirements, spraying techniques, processing, and marketing.

The training, themed, “Maize: The Golden Grain,” was organised in collaboration with Messrs Unis Multi Link Services Limited under the title, “Training and Empowerment on Maize Farming and Value Addition Best Practices in Edo State.”