Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has donated 70 trucks of fertiliser to Bauchi farmers as part of efforts to boost farming activities in the state.
Speaking during the inauguration of the distribution committee, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammedlauded the federal government for the gesture which he said would go a long way in supporting farmers at the grassroots.
Governor Mohammed said the state government on its part has since embarked on the sale of NPK fertiliser for the 2024 farming season at a subsidised rate of N20,000 per bag with a directive to the relevant agencies to ensure that the commodities are made available to farmers across the 20 LGAs of the state.
Represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Auwal Jatau, the governor also recalled that the state government has distributed 20 units of tractors, 94 rice milling machines, 47 groundnut decorticating machines, 47 multipurpose trashes, 470 knapsack sprayers, six animal feed crushers and 20 tricycles, among other things, to assist eligible farmers for 2024 farming season.
According to him, in addition, the state government has also supported 10 communities through a community revolving fund (CRF), with each beneficiary getting a cheque of $25,000, making a total of $250,000 through the state’s ACReSAL Funds.
“In an effort to consolidate our agricultural transformation initiative, my government is planning to acquire heavy-duty agricultural equipment to raise the level of agricultural production and ensure food security in the state,” he added.
He mentioned some of the committee’s terms of reference to include designing criteria for the selection of genuine farmers and farmers’ associations across the state, ensure fair distribution of the assorted fertilizer to the benefiting farmers and to submit report to the state government within three weeks.
The governor who said that Bauchi State is blessed with abundant land, human and natural resources, assured that his administration would properly harness and utilise them for the overall economic development of the state.
Responding, the chairman of the committee, Alh Nuhu Ahmed, who is the Emir of Jama’are expressed gratitude to the state government for finding them worthy to serve in the committee and promised to ensure justice and equity in the distribution process.
