ibironkeeniola 
The Niger State Government has officially approved the sales and distribution of fertilisers across the state at the cost of N8,000, for the 2021 planting season.
According to the state government, this was done to enable farmers’ accessibility, affordability and efficiency in farming for a bountiful harvest in the year under review.
Deputy Governor, Ahmed Mohammed Ketso made this disclosure on Tuesday at the flag-off ceremony in Minna, Niger State.
Speaking, Ketso said that the state has acquired over 27 trucks making 15,000 metric tons of fertilisers for distribution to the 25 Local Government Areas of the state.
He assured farmers of the relentless efforts being made by the state government to alleviate the security challenges facing the state, while assuring small-scale farmers of subsidised production inputs.
On his part, Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development, Haliru Zakari Jikantoro, said the current administration has put in place measures to improve food availability, cash crops production for employment purposes and wealth creation to manage youth’s restlessness.
Jikantoro reassured farmers on the access to high-quality inputs for farming activities, adding that the state will explore all options possible to leverage on the vast opportunities abound in the state while the ministry will continue to implement government agricultural policy.
Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Niger State chapter, Alhaji Shehu Galadima, who also spoke, bemoaned the insecurity challenges experienced by farmers due to bandit attacks.
He further pleaded with the Federal Government to reconsider its stand by subsidising agricultural inputs to enable affordability of these inputs by farmers.
SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA