Bauchi gov launches 2018 farming season, pegs fertilizer to N5,500 per bag

BAUCHI state government has adopted the presidential initiative of fertilizer procurement and sell directly to farmers at the fixed rate of N5,500 per 50kg bag in order to make it easily accessible to the farmers by eliminating intermediaries who buy and resell at exorbitant prices.

Bauchi Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar made the declaration while launching the 2018 farming season and fertilizer sales calling on farmers in the state to ensure judicious use of the commodity just as he assured of effective monitoring measures to “ensure the distribution of fertilizer to farmers across the 20 local government areas of the state.”

The Governor who launched the 2018 farming season Tuesday also said the APC led administration in the state has given serious attention to agriculture with the aim of providing adequate food to the people pointing out that, “creating means of employment as well as diversifying the economy so as to reduce dependence on oil as the nation’s main revenue earner.”

He added that “Government has initiated integrated agricultural entrepreneurship scheme which seeks to uplift the agricultural sector and boost economic activities in the state”.

Mohammed Abubakar further said that the effort is, “aimed at generating employment, eradicating poverty, increasing farmers’ production, agricultural skills acquisition and provision of food security within the state through the presentation of special packages to farmers.”

He then explained that his administration has, “accessed a N5 billion loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria under the ‘commercial agricultural credit schemes’ out of the eight billion naira requested by the state. The state hopes to receive the remaining three billion naira soon for the implementation of more agricultural programmes.”

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The Governor further announced that the state and local government areas have agreed to provide 40% for the ongoing supply of 500 units of 75 horsepower tractors to the state, 40 units of which had already arrived the state.

The Governor assured that the tractors are going to be distributed on loan to cooperative societies and individual large-scale farmers across the state, with beneficiaries paying only 60% over a period of three years.

Mohammed Abubakar expressed gratitude that farmers in the state have “over the years been working so hard to provide the state and the nation with adequate food,” which is the reason for the early launch of the fertilizer sales programme.

Other supporting agricultural loan packages introduced by the administration under the programme include cattle fattening programme loan to 3,230 beneficiaries, small ruminants loan of goats to 2,230 beneficiaries, provision of fisheries loan to 120 beneficiaries, 150 power tillers (small tractors) loans, among others.