By Adedapo Adesanya
The Sokoto State Government has eased the burden on farmers as it announced the purchase of 12,000 metric tons of fertilizer, which will be distributed to farmers across the state at a discount of 50 per cent
The fertilizers, which have a market value of N3.5 billion, will help augment the N4 billion loan facility to be distributed to farmers in the state for the cultivation of cash crops such as rice, wheat, tomato, and others.
Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State announced the reduction in the price of the fertilizers when he launched the sales/distribution of the item and other farm inputs for the 2021 wet season farming at Shagari local government on Saturday.
According to him, the procured fertilizers – NPK and Urea – would be sold at the subsidized rates of N4,000 and N5,250 against the market prices of N8,000 and N10,500 respectively
As part of this too, the procurement of the credit facility by the government will “support the farmers who occupy over 85 per cent of the farming population in the state to produce rice, wheat, tomato and other food cash crops.”
The governor also said the Sokoto State government has purchased various seedlings, insecticides, pesticides that will be distributed free of charge to the farmers.
He also said the state government is planning to establish an agro cargo terminal with a view to export cash crops cultivated in the state to other parts of the world with ease and also to mitigate post-harvest sufferings of the farmers.
Mr Tambuwal also said the state government is always willing to welcome investors that will improve farming activities in the state, challenging the farmers to take advantage of his administration’s efforts towards food security by being more productive.
On his part, in his welcome address, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Muhammadu Aliyu Tureta applauded the efforts of the governor, pointing out that apart from the subsidized sale of the fertilizer, the Tambuwal-led administration is also providing various opportunities to farmers in the state.
