The Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr Abdullahi Sule has revealed that the state government will provide 26,000 bags of fertiliser for smallholder farmers in the state.
The Governor said initially, the State provided 13,000 bags of fertiliser to farmers but with the present high cost of living, the state government increased the quantity of the fertiliser to 26,000 bags.
Speaking with journalists after a visit to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, the Governor said the state has been supporting farmers in the dry season farming for the past 4 and a half years.
“With the renewed hope agenda as well as request from the Minister of Agriculture we will double it, if for instance, we have been providing 13,000 bags of fertilizer to the farmers we will increase it to 26,000 bags of fertilizer.
“This is because of the high cost of living, farmers are having more challenges, government is in the position to provide support so we will continue to support the smallholder farmers to improve production and reduce pressure on the FX.
“To reduce the pressure of high prices, we are looking at our strategic grain reserves to see what can be done. Moreso there are a lot of people hoarding food items hoping there prices will shore up”, the Governor said.
Governor Sule further revealed that the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu during a meeting with Governors have indicated that the President is interested to ensure that people are not hoarding food items and where such issues are found the perpetrators will be penalized.
In his remarks, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari said Nasarawa state is notable for grains, legumes, and root crop cultivation, and some of the country’s bigger rice millers are located in the state.
The Minister urged the state to be prepared to lend additional support to farmers during this period.
“This is because, when the Federal Government offered the 50 per cent subsidies on agro-inputs during the take-off of the wheat production, there were reported cases across a number of states of farmers who were too indigent to pay their counterpart 50 per cent in order to access the agro-inputs.
“A few states provided additional subsidies, while others assisted the farmers with land clearing and quality extension services. Yet others have invested in power tillers and solar-powered water pumps.
“It is interesting that, last year, NASENI laid the foundation for a solar cell production plant in Gora, Nasarawa State. It is our expectation that in due course the plant, when operational, will be the feeder for solar-powered pump needs in the immediate environment and beyond”, the Minister noted.