Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Bagudu on Tuesday inaugurated a seven-man committee on fertiliser supply, quantity, distribution, and sale for the 2020 wet season.

The committee was inaugurated to ensure veritable access to relevant farming inputs for farmers, in order to achieve great yield at the end of the farming season.

It will also act as a link between fertiliser stores and the government, communicating the state of the products with the government, for necessary steps to be taken.

Gov. Bagudu, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Muhammad Suleiman-Argungu noted that the committee was expected to adhere to six terms of references in order to achieve its target.

The terms include, “Identify the quantity of fertiliser supplied to the state, quantity of fertilisers sold and remitted, quantity in stock, observe the cash book and any other omnibus,” Bagudu stressed.

“Kebbi State has taken its lane in the comity of states and beyond, particularly on agriculture.

“It is in that regard that the government has held it with high esteem to ensure that all other commodities that are relevant to farming are provided to the teeming farmers in our state.

“It is in this perspective that the government deemed it expedient to constitute a committee that will go round all our stores where our fertilisers are kept to ensure they are stocked.

“In the event we don’t have the fertiliser, the government should know so that it will procure more,” he added.

The governor via the COS revealed that the state had liaised with the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Nigeria to procure 1,500 metric tonnes of fertilisers, which would be purchased by the state-owned fertiliser producing plant.

“This is equivalent to our 25 trucks of trailers and it will be purchased by Albarka fertiliser plant, the state-owned fertiliser producing plant.

“The government will ensure equity in the distribution of the fertiliser and peasant farmers will receive what they require,” he said.

The seven-man committee, led by Alhaji Abubakar Bello, was asked to work on their report and submit to the state government, in one week.

Bello assured that he and his team would work assiduously to deliver on its mandate, adding that it would tackle pertinent issues that will improve farmers’ access to fertiliser.

Other members of the committee are; Abubakar Zaki (committee secretary), Alhaji Abubakar Bunza, Alhaji Alaramma Atiku, Alhaji Musa Argungu, Alhaji Danladi Jandutsi, and Alhaji Muhammad Sakaba.

SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA