Zamfara state government, Northwest of the country, on Saturday flagged off the sales of 25,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer to farmers for the 2018 wet farming season.
Speaking at the official flag-off of the exercise at Nasarawar-Burkullu town, Bukkuyum local government area of the state, Governor Abdul’Aziz Yari Abubakar said despite the high price of Fertilizer at conventional markets, the state government was going to sell a bag of fertiliser to farmers at N5,000
“As we all know agriculture is the major potential of this state, it became necessary to support our farmers to produce food, I am therefore calling on our farmers to utilize this opportunity to buy the fertilizer”, he said.
Yari added that since the inception of this administration in 2011, it has spent over N6.8 billion for the procurement of fertiliser and other agricultural inputs and sold to farmers at subsidized rates.
“In 2017, we procured over 11,000 metric tonnes of assorted fertilizer and agricultural inputs at the cost of over N1.6 billion and considering the needs of the people this year, we double the quantity of the last year and purchased over 25,000 metric tonnes, at the cost of over N3billion”, he said.
He said the state government sustained partnership with IFAD and Fadama 3 in food production and training of youths in various agricultural entrepreneurship.
“In 2017, we disbursed N190 million to empower 260 farmers groups across the state in rice and sorghum production through partnership with Fadama III”, he said.
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lawal Jangebe commended governor Yari for his concern and support to the agricultural sector .
Jangebe added that from 2011 to date, the present administration through various programmes and initiatives to farmers and farming activities has improved food production across the state.
https://www.africaprimenews.com/2018/05/06/agriculture/nigeria-nirsal-to-support-500000-farmers-in-2018-wet-season-farming/