Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule on Tuesday flagged off the sales of fertilizer to farmers for dry season crop production, warning officials in the state against diversion of the commodities.
Sule said during the event in Lafia that government had procured a total of 13,200 bags of fertilizer (660 metric tonne) to be sold to farmers at a subsidised rate of N12,000 each for the 2024 dry season farming in the state.
The governor pointed out that the decision to subsidise the from the current open market price of N21,000 to N12,000 per bag, was to enhance crop production in the state.
He said that officials handling the distribution and sales of the the fertilisers and other inputs would be held accountable for any shortcoming.
“We are selling the fertiliser at a subsidised rate of N12, 000 per bag to enhance food production by our farmers this year.
“As the state government is flagging off the fertiliser sales today, we equally expect the various local government areas to replicate the same in their respective areas,” he said.
Sule said the gesture was in support of the Federal Government’s sustained efforts to boost food production and ensure food security in the country.
He said that his administration would remain focused in ensuring that agricultural potentials were fully harnessed in the state.
The governor urged the people to take advantage of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agricultural Funds for food security in the state.
The Chairman, Nasarawa State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Dr Peter Akwe said that the exercise would lead to bumper harvest in 2024.
He urged those involved in the sales to ensure that real farmers receive the fertiliser across the state.
Earlier, Umar Dan’Akano, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, said the gesture was to demonstrate government’s commitment to boosting food production in the state.
Responding, Mr Isaac Kigbu, Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), commended Gov. Sule for his foresight in prioritising the needs of farmers in the state.
The chairman assured of his association’s readiness to collaborate with the state government to address the challenges facing the sector.
