By Correspondent in Minna.
Fertilizer.
Photo credit: Wikipedia.
Governor Umar Mohammed Bago of Niger state has flagged-off 2023 wet season fertilizer sales, distribution and other inputs, warning the handlers against hoarding and selling of the different brands of the commodity above N18, 000 approved rate.
The Governor gave who the warning in Minna, north central Nigeria,on Monday and directed security agencies to monitor the sales and distribution of the commodity and ensure that anyone found selling above N18, 000, or having more than ten bags at a time should be brought to book.
Speaking during the official flag-off ceremony which took place at the Farm Centre, Minna, Governor Bago said the era of hoarding fertilizer or causing artificial scarcity of the commodity and other farm inputs is over,adding that defaulters would be dealt with.
As part of measures for improved food security and increase in food production, the Governor encouraged all Nigerlites, including retired civil servants and youths to take advantage of the verse land in the state to engage in farming for increased food production.
Meanwhile, the Emirs of Minna, Dr. Umar Farouk Bahago want Governor Bago to ensure seamless sales and distribution of all the farm inputs by cutting-off politicians or check politicization of the sales and distribution of the different brands of fertilizer.
According to them, the involvement of politicians in the sale and distribution of fertilizer is responsible for the astronomical rise in the cost of grains and other food items.
“Nigeria cannot attain desired food production to meet ever increasing population with old and archaic form of farming,” the Emir observed.
The traditional ruler ,therefore,stressed the need for the over 20 agriculture and technologically based tertiary institutions in parts of the country to rise up to their responsibility of ending old fashioned farming method.
In his contribution,the Emir of Minna, Dr. Umar Farouk Bahago, has called for the introduction of modern farming techniques as a way of encouraging more people to engage in intensive farming for mass production of food for local and export.
The Emir, represented by Alhaji Mohammed Kpotu, expressed worry that despite the existence of about 20 agriculture and technologically based institutions, spread across the country, Nigerian farmers still grappled with archaic method of farming and therefore wants government to do something about it.
Speaking earlier, Niger state Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Shehu Galadima, drew the attention of the Governor to the antics of middle men, mostly politicians, who he said engaged in hoarding the commodity and selling at cut-throat price to farmers, thereby forcing a rise in their cost of production.
Galadima,however, cautioned AFAN members not to abuse the privilege of subsidizing the cost of fertilizer by re-selling but pleaded with the Governor to evolve strategies that would make it difficult for third parties to interfere with the sale and distribution of fertilizer and other farm inputs for the current cropping season.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
