By Beauty John, LAFIA
The Federal Government, Tuesday, donated farm inputs to be distributed to farmers in Nasarawa state in preparation for dry season farming.
Speaking at the launching of Fertilizer Sale and Distribution of Farm Inputs to Farmers for 2021 Dry Season Farming held in Lafia, the state capital, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono said Nasarawa is one of the nine selected agrarian states to benefit from the intervention.
The minster, represented by Hajiya Karima Babangida, Director, Agricultural Management at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the support is expected to reach about 400 rice farmers in the state.
According to the minister, 200 bags of rice seeds, 100 liters of herbicide, 800 liters of insecticide, 800 bags of MPK fertilizer, 400 bags of Urea fertilizer and 800 liters of soil amender have been donated for the dry season farming in the state.
The minister who decried challenges faced in crop production such as flood, disaster in northern and central part of the country, insecurity, poor rainfall and the COVID-19 pandemic, commended Nasarawa state government for the steps it’s taking in ensuring food security in the state and the country at large.
“The decision of Nasarawa state to launch the sale of fertilizer and distribution of inputs for dry season is apt, very commendable, given the fact that one cycle of crop production can no longer sustain the growing population in terms of food and nutritional needs of our country,” he said.
Nanono stated that aside the establishment of yam storage facility in Lafia, Cassava processing centre in Keffi, Cassava fortification centre in Ado, Shea butter processing centre in Shabu, the ministry will continue to partner with Nasarawa to ensure adequate and quality food production.
In his keynote address, the state Governor, Abdullahi A Sule said the occasion was in furtherance of commitment of his administration to ensure effective distribution process in the delivery of farm inputs to the teeming farmers, as well as to ensure all year round farming, with a view to attaining sustainable food production in the State
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the flag-off of the sales of 300 metric tons fertilizer to dry season farmers is a further demonstration of our avowed commitment to the development of the agricultural sector,” he said.
Governor Sule, who instructed that the fertilizer should be sold at a subsidized rate of N5,000 per bag, charge the beneficiaries to ensure judicious use of the commodity to increase their yields for enhanced benefits.
Sule warned that those handling the fertilizer sales will be held responsible for any anomaly in the distribution of the fertilizer in their respective domain.
“Coordinators at various levels are to ensure remittance of sales to the designated bank account as any misappropriation will be meted with appropriate sanction.
“I should also caution individuals and groups against purchasing the commodity and selling to farmers at exorbitant rates,” he added.
Earlier, professor Alanana Otaki, the state Commissioner of Agriculture and Water Resources, explained that the inputs donated by the federal government will be distributed to farmers in the 13 local government areas and 18 development areas in the state, free of charge.
However, seven trailers of Urea and MPK fertilizer, each trailer containing 600 bags of fertilizer, will be availed to interested farmers at a subsidized rate of 5,000 naira per bag.
The commissioner lamented shortage of extension agents at the Nasarawa Agricultural Development Programme (NADP), as he called on the state government to provide adequate man power.
Mr Samuel Meshi, Chairman All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Nasarawa state chapter, who spoke on behalf of the farmers, thanked the government for the initiative.
Meshi who noted that farmers over the years have been not been in best of terms with herders, commended the government for their consistent intervention and provision of adequate security which has drastically curtailed crisis in most farming communities in the state.
