No fewer than 100 trucks of NPK fertilisers have been distributed to farmers in Bauchi State, a move directed by the state government over the weekend.
The initiative, according to the Bauchi government, was aimed at easing the hardship of farmers and boosting agricultural productivity while improving food security in the state.
The fertiliser distribution was flagged off by the State Governor, Bala Mohammed, in Soro town, in the Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state.
The governor disclosed that the 50kg NPK 20-10-10 and Urea fertilisers were procured at the cost of N120 million, adding that a bag of 50kg NPK 20-10-10 fertiliser was procured from dealers at N9,500 would be sold at N9,000.
In his words, “My administration will continue to promote agricultural production in order to ensure food availability in the state, which will, in turn, ensure food security, because, with the availability of food, hunger and poverty will be subdued.
“In order to make assorted fertiliser readily available for the real farmers across the state, the government has procured 100 trailers at the cost of over N120 million which will be sold directly to the farmers by the fertilizer company,” he added.
Mohammed noted that his government was working very hard to impact the lives of citizens of the state, revealing that some of the fertilisers were purchased locally from dealers in the state.
“We are ensuring that after the investments on infrastructure and services, we set aside 10 percent of our budget for the development of agriculture.
“We have really strived to establish a revolving fund for the purchase of fertiliser, but that has not worked and that is why we have entered into ISPO so that our fertiliser blending company will be self-sustaining, and we will be able to get money and do what is required,” he said.