Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has flagged off the sales and distribution of fertilisers for the 2023 farming season.
A statement by the Director-General of Press Affairs, Ismaila Uba Misilli, said the governor announced the fertiliser to be sold at the rate of N19,000 per bag, against the market price of N26,000, to alleviate the financial burden on the farmers.
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He added that the governor directed that the commodity will be sold at the price it was sold last year despite the increase in the market price of the commodity.
Misilli added that the timely distribution of the subsidised fertilisers for this year’s wet season farming is aimed at boosting agriculture and ensuring food security in the state thereby creating wealth and providing employment opportunities for the teeming populace.
The governor said the state government has procured 160 trucks of fertiliser at the cost of N2.8 billion, “an addition of about 35 trucks from the quantity distributed last year.”
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The statement added that Governor Yahaya also explained that his administration has put in place an effective framework for the sales and distribution of fertilisers across all the 114 political wards of the state, “to ensure that the commodity reaches the real farmers at the grassroots.”
“Governor Yahaya administration is mindful of the high price of fertilisers in the market which adversely affects the farmers and reduces the overall contribution of the sector in the economic development of the state.
“We understand that the high cost of fertiliser and other farm implements can be a significant barrier to our farmers. That’s why we are working diligently to make these essential inputs available at reduced prices to alleviate the financial burden on our farmers.
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“Our aim is to empower our farmers with the essential resources to enhance crop yields, improve soil fertility, increase profitability, and achieve sustainable agricultural practices,” he said.
The governor cautioned farmers against diversion or any form of mismanagement of the commodity, adding that the law will take its course on anybody found wanting.
