By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The Jigawa State government has procured 200 Trailers of NPK fertilizer to be sold at subsidized price to the rainy season farmers in the state.
This is in its bid to complement the president Bola Ahmed Tinibu led administration to achieve food Security,
The chairman of the subsidized fertilizer distribution committee, Senator Mustapha Makama Kiyawa spoke to newsmen shortly after inauguration of his committee by governor Malam Umar Namadi at government house Dutse.
He explained that the president had recently declared state of emergency on food Security in the country which encouraged the state government to procure 200 trailer load of the NPK fertilizer containing 120,000 bags of the commodity to be sold to farmers at about 50% subsidy.
According to the chairman who is also the chief of staff to the governor the commodity is already in the state in the stores at all parts of the state for easy access by the farmers.
The chief of staff to the governor maintained that “the fertilizer would be sold at N16,000 far bag adding that the saes would take off on Monday 17th of this month at all designated centers across the state”.
Senator Kiyawa disclosed further that it is part of the governor Malam Umar Namadi’s administration’s priority in supporting the agricultural sector, which served as the backbone of the state’s economy.
He stated, “The removal of fuel subsidy is a necessary step towards economic stability, the government is to ensure that farmers receive the support they need during this transition”.
“Fertilizer is essential for enhancing crop yields and ensuring food security, it will be made available to farmers at a significantly reduced cost.
“It is expected to be sold to farmers at the price of 16,000 Naira per bag, which is considerably lower than the prevailing market price”.
“This subsidized rate is aimed at making fertilizer affordable and accessible to as many farmers as possible, particularly those who may have been unable to afford it due to financial constraints”.
“The committee’s role is crucial in facilitating the timely distribution of subsidized fertilizer, which will help cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal”, he emphasis.
The Chairman reiterated the committee’s commitment to the welfare of farmers, stating, “We understand the financial constraints faced by many farmers, adding that their goal is to alleviate their burden by providing subsidized fertilizer.
“By making it available at a reduced cost, we aim to empower farmers and encourage increased agricultural output, ultimately contributing to enhanced food security in our state.”
The committee will work diligently to procure the subsidized fertilizer, ensure its proper storage, and oversee its equitable distribution across all local government areas of Jigawa State.
This effort will involve close collaboration with agricultural agencies, cooperative societies, and other stakeholders to ensure the efficient and transparent implementation of the distribution process.