Nasarawa Govt to purchase over 240,000 bags of fertilizers for farmers

Nasarawa State Government has concluded arrangements to purchase more than 240,000 bags of assorted fertilizers for distribution to farmers at subsidized rate.

Mr Jameel Zakari, Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lafia.

Zakari said that this would ensure that genuine farmers access adequate amount of the commodity as the rains set in, adding that government had signed an agreement with suppliers through the governors’ forum for the product.

He pointed out that that the over 400 truckloads of the product expected from the agreement would last beyond the coming rainy season.

Zakari pointed out that given the commitment of the state government to make fertilizer available early enough, it had worked out the necessary modalities for the prompt supply of the commodity.

“We would soon begin to take delivery of the fertilizer in the state for distribution to farmers taking into cognizance of the fact that the earlier farmers got it, the more beneficial it would be towards improving crop yield,” he said.

He explained that there was already a template for the equitable distribution of the commodity to genuine farmers to allay the fear of diversion of the commodity.

The commissioner said that Gov. Tanko Al-Makura had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a Chinese firm, during his recent visit to China, for the establishment of four fertilizer-blending plants in the state.

“As we speak, the Chinese partners are already in the state to put finishing touches to the MoU and start work on the plants,’’ he said.

Zakari said that the persistent cases of scarcity of fertilizer would be over in the state when the plants start production.