Bauchi State Government has distributed 72 motorcycles and assorted improved seedlings to Agricultural Extension Officers and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in order to boost food production in the state.

Programme Manager, Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme (BSADP), Dr Illiyasu Gital, made this known on Sunday in Bauchi in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Gital explained that 50 of the motorcycles were purchased by the state government, while the Federal Government donated 22.

He further explained that the motorcycles donated by the Federal Government were allocated to the sub-zonal offices, to be used by extension officers.

Gital said that the 50 motorcycles purchased by the state government were allocated to extension officers on loan at 50 per cent subsidy.

He disclosed that the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), provided selected 2,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state with 60 tonnes of maize, sorghum, millet and cowpea.

Gital said that the IDPs and their host communities were expected to cultivate 6,600 hectares of farmlands in the 2015 season.

He said that the BSADP also donated six tonnes of maize, sorghum and millet, to be cultivated in 1,650 hectares.

The programme manager said that BSADP would provide extension services, ensure monitoring and any relevant intervention to the participating farmers to ensure that the objectives were achieved.

He said that the programme would increase agricultural production and food security to the IDPs who he described as "vulnerable" and their host communities. (NAN)

Photo shows: Bauchi State Gov