Bauchi State Government has provided financial support of the sum of $250,000 to selected farmers’ corporative societies across the state to boost food protection and promote agriculture.
The Governor, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, also on Saturday, officially launched the 2024 farming season with the flagging off of sales of assorted fertiliser and other farming communities.
During the ceremony which was held in Dass, headquarters of Dass LGA, the Governor warned hoarders of the commodities to desist from such criminal acts or face the wrath of the law if apprehended.
Bala Mohammed also said that to consolidate agricultural initiatives, his administration plans to acquire additional equipment as well as employ extension workers to improve farming yields.
He further expressed his desire to support and motivate farmers to embrace farming in line with the current technological changes and new techniques.
The Governor said that despite the enormous challenges and limited resources, the PDP administration in the state under his watch has accorded agriculture the priority it deserves, adding that he will establish production of fertilizer and its associated products before the end of his administration.
While commending the Federal Government, Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) and other partners, Bala Mohammed pledged to look inward to ensure that all farmers are involved.
On climate change, the Governor said that his administration will be proactive by planting an early variety of all crops recommended by professionals for economic gains.
He, however, announced that the cost for the production of a 50kg bag of NPK 20:10:10 which stands at the cost of N26,966 has been subsidised by the State Government at N20,000 per bag.
He also said that in its determination to encourage massive food production to fight food crisis, the State Government is to unbundle all the forests locked as a result of security challenges in some parts of the state.
The Governor stressed that his administration has accorded the needed priority to the agricultural sector since 2019 using the opportunity to launch Sixty new tractors, modern farming machines procured to encourage mechanized farming.
He then assured of adequate security provisions for farmers to enable them to gain access to their farmlands without fear of criminal invasion.
Earlier in his address, the Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture, Prof. Simon Madugu Yelams, said that the Ministry has taken effective measures aimed at ensuring the availability of the fertilizer in all strategic locations so farmers to access the product without difficulties.
The Commissioner commended the Governor for creating an enabling environment for agriculture to thrive in the state stressing that all policies and programmes are geared toward making agriculture attractive to the people.
The ceremony which ended abruptly due to a heavy downpour was attended by Emirs, top government functionaries as well as leadership of various farmers’ associations who commended the Governor for his support of agriculture.
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