…Flags off N4.7 bn fertilizer distribution to farmers free
From Umar Danladi Ado, Sokoto
Sokoto State Government has commenced the distribution of N4.7 billion fertilisers to boost farming activities across the 23 local government areas in the state.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu who announced the donation also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and urged Sokoto people to make the best use of the gesture to ensure good security in the state.
Aliyu also applauded President Tinubu for considering 60 trucks of fertilizer donation to the state to boost its agricultural activities for onward distribution to the farmers free in this year’s farming season.
The governor said plans were on to revive all irrigation sites in the state as he disclosed a proposal to expend N10 bn on the rehabilitation of Lugu Dam in the Wurno Local Government area to boost rice production in the state.
He however stated that the fertilizer inputs are from the presidency, the Fadama NG- CARES Programme in collaboration with Sokoto State Government respectively with the first consignment of 203 trucks of fertilizer provided by local government Areas in collaboration with state government.
Speaking at the distribution in Dange town, headquarters of Damage Shuni local government, governor Aliyu Sokoto said the essence was to improve agricultural output in the state during the 2024 cropping seasons, and by implication create job opportunities for our teeming youths, especially at the grassroots.
“The state will receive 10 trucks of fertilizer, 7 trucks would be released instantly for wet season farming while the remaining 3 trucks would subsequently be issued for the dry season farming respectively.”
“The governor disclosed that a total of 195 farmers community Associations (FCAs) consisting of 16,967 farmers across the 23 local government areas of the state were to benefit from the distribution of this year procured fertilizer free of charge under the state Fadama N-CARES programme.”
“Also, a total of 45,366 bags of NPK, 24,264 bags of Urea, 20,664 litres of Agro chemicals and 20,000kg of Rice each Sorghum and Millet seeds would be distributed to farmers across the state,” added the governor.
He further stated that in an attempt to make them self-reliant youth and women groups, farmers will receive 1000 water pumps, 23 multipurpose threshers, 3000 tomato grinding machines and 58 rice thresher machines at no cost.
He called on all serving and retired civil servants, politicians, businessmen, teeming youths and the entire people of the state to take advantage of the golden opportunity being provided in the agricultural sector by participating in one form of agricultural activity or the other to be self-reliant and enhance economic growth of the state.
He said the state government was
already in partnership with numerous National and international organizations to strengthen and boost the agricultural sector to one of the best in the country.
