Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State on Tuesday flagged off the sale of 20,700 bags of NPK fertiliser at the subsidised rate of N10,000 per 50kg bag to farmers in the state for the 2022 farming season.
Speaking at the event in Lafia, the governor said that the state purchased each bag at N17,000, but would sell same at the subsidised rate of N10,000 to farmers in order to ensure sustainable food production.
Sule recalled that in 2021, the state government procured and distributed 600 metric tonnes of assorted fertilisers and other farm inputs to dry season farmers at subsidised rates for the 2021 dry season farming.
“All these is to ensure effective distribution process in the delivery of farm inputs to our teeming farmers.
“It is also to ensure all-year-round farming with a view to attaining sustainable food production in the state,” the governor said.
He disclosed that the state had recently entered into an agreement with the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority to access 500 hectares of land in Doma Local Government Area for rice production.
According to him, this is intended to explore the state’s agricultural potential for increased industrial activities for socio-economic development of the state.
He added that the state was endowed with fertile land and good climate suitable for the production of arable crops for both domestic consumption and export.
The governor threatened to deal with anyone who diverted or inflated the prices of the commodity.
He called on members of the public especially farmers to report any abnormalities during the sale to the appropriate authority for prompt action.
Responding on behalf of farmers, the State Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr Samuel Meshi, expressed gratitude to the governor for his developmental strides, particularly, in the agricultural sector.
The AFAN chairman noted that farmers had challenges ranging from insecurity to lack of tractors for mechanised farming.
He appealed to the governor to further reduce the price of fertiliser and to offer tractors on loan to farmers in the state.