Khadijat Saidu, Birnin Kebbi
In its efforts to foster sustainable agricultural development in the state, Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu has directed the immediate release of one hundred and twelve thousand, five hundred bags of fertilizer for sale to farmers across the 225 wards in all the 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
This was disclosed by State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Maigari Abdullahi Dakingari, while briefing newsmen in Birnin Kebbi.
He said the state Governor, has directed the commencement of Fertilizer sales to farmers in order to facilitate smooth wet season farming in the state.
According to the Commissioner, each of the 225 wards would receive 500 bags of assorted fertilizers and will be sold to farmers at subsidized rate of N6,000 per bag.
“Mai gari further explained that the governor had also direct that a committee should be put in place to monitor the distribution and the sales of the product to ensure that the commodity reach the targeted beneficiaries in the state.
“The fertilizer is for farming activities in the state and it is not to be sold or diverted outside Kebbi state”, he warned.
He however said in other to achieve a successful and hitch-free sales of the fertilizer to those that are genuinely in need , a composition of the following members of a committee have been setup which includes- Commissioners, members of the State House of Assembly, LGA Chairmen and their vice, Special Adviser, Permanent Secretaries, representative of the Emirates Council, the Ulamas, Leaders of the Farmers’ Association, Security Agencies and the Media.
They are all mandated to oversee the distribution of the commodity in each of the ward.
The Commissioner reiterated that, already the state government has stockpiled fertilizer in all depots and service centers in all the 21 LGAs in the state.
He therefore, warned that government would not condone any act of diversion and that anyone caught diverting the product would be dealt within the ambit of the law.
