Sokoto procures, subsidises N3.5bn fertiliser
The administration of Sokoto has spent N3.5 billion on the purchase of 12,000 metric tons of fertilizer, which will be distributed at subsidized rates to farmers across the state.
Similarly, the state government has acquired an N4 billion loan facility to be distributed to farmers in the state for the cultivation of cash crops such as rice, wheat, tomato, and others.
Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state disclosed these on Saturday when he launched the sales/distribution of fertilizer and other farm inputs for the 2021 wet season farming at Shagari local government.
According to him, the procured fertilizer- (NPK and Urea), would be sold at the subsidized rates of N4,000 and N5,250 against the market prices of N8,000 and N10,500 respectively
As part of this too, the government’s securing of a credit facility to boost cash cropping was meant “to support the farmers who occupy over 85% of the farming population in the state to produce rice, wheat, tomato and other food cash crops,” the governor stated.
The governor also said the state government has purchased various seedlings, insecticides, pesticides that works be distributed free of charge to the farmers.
He also said the state government is planning to establish an agro cargo terminal with a view to export cash crops cultivated in the state to other parts of the world with ease and also to mitigate post harvest sufferings of the farmers.
READ ALSO: ACF hails south east governors for disowning Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB
Tambuwal also said state government is always willing to welcome investors that will improve farming activities in the state, just as he urged the farmers to take advantage of his administration’s efforts by being more productive.
In his welcome address, the acting permanent secretary of the ministry Alhaji Muhammadu Aliyu Tureta applauded the efforts of the governor, pointing out that apart from the subsidized sale of the fertilizer the governor also provides various opportunities to farmers in the state.
