Agriculture, no 1 economic driver, poverty eradicator – Mutfwang

Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau has affirmed that agriculture has the potential to be the major economic driver of the state capable of combatting poverty

Mutfwang made this known during the launch of the 2025 Fertiliser and Farm Inputs Distribution Scheme, which was held on Wednesday in Jos.

The governor, who stressed that agriculture was one of his administration’s major focus, noted that the fertiliser and farm inputs distribution was its attempt at getting farmers fully ready for the farming season.

He expressed optimism that the effort would reflect on the collective agricultural output of the state.

“I welcome you all to this formal flag-off of the fertiliser and farm inputs distribution for the farming season.

“We had made it very clear from inception that one of our key economic drivers; in fact, the most important key economic driver for us is agriculture.

“It is God’s blessing to us as Plateau people to escape the trap of poverty, so we are looking at how we will not only be able to provide food security, but ultimately contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth and bring about its food sovereignty.

“There is no country that is stable and peaceful without food sustainability,” he said.

Mutfwang, who lauded the state’s Ministry of Agriculture for introducing technology to aid in the process of farm input distribution, said the attempt would curb the diversion of fertilisers to middlemen as previously recorded in the state.

The governor, however, said that the aim was not to push middlemen out of business but to scale up farm production in the state.

According to him, the Plateau State Commodity Company is in place to procure farm products to guarantee food sufficiency and affordability in the state.

Speaking at the event, Mr Samson Bugama the State’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, said 300,000 farmers had been captured under the Ministry’s database; adding that each would receive two bags of fertilisers for the price of one bag at #49,000.

Bugama said that 450 extension workers had also been trained to actualise the vision across the state, adding that in the near future, two million farmers would be captured to enjoy the subsidy.

According to the commissioner, all these efforts are aimed at encouraging farmers to complement the government’s efforts by doing their bid to fight poverty through a well thought out initiative.