Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has donated 70 trucks of assorted fertiliser to farmers in Bauchi state to boost agricultural growth and promote food security through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
The disclosure was made by the State Governor, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed on Wednesday when he inaugurated a Committee set up for the distribution of the commodity.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the Government House, Bauchi, the Governor commended the Federal Government for the gesture which he said would go a long way in supporting farmers at the grassroots to boost their farming activities thereby enhancing production in the state.
Bala Mohammed also said that on its part, the state government has since embarked on the sale of NPK fertilizer for 2024 farming season at 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 Government has distributed among other things, 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 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 US $25,000:00, making a total of US $250,000:00 through the state’s ACReSAL Funds.
According to him, “All these efforts are geared at complementing the effort of the Federal Government towards food security in our dear state and the country in general.”
“It may interest you to know that despite the enormous challenges and the limited resources of the State Government which makes it difficult to support and grow all the economic sub-sectors at the same time, the Government has accorded agriculture the priority it deserves,” he added.
According to him, “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 mentioned some of the committee’s terms of reference including 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 submitting a report to the State Government within 3 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 utilize them for the overall economic development of the state.
Responding, the chairman of the committee, Alh. Nuhu Ahmed Wabi, who is the Emir of Jama’are expressed gratitude to the state government for finding them worthy to serve on the committee and promised to ensure justice and equity in the distribution process as contained in a statement by Muslim Lawal, Special Assistant (Media) Deputy Governor’s Office, Bauchi.
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