The federal government has allocated 2,000 tonnes of fertiliser to support farmers in Gombe state during the 2024 farming season.

Gov. Inuwa Yahaya stated this in Gombe on Thursday during the inauguration of fertiliser sale and distribution for the 2024 cropping season in the state.

Mr Yahaya said that attaining food security could only be achieved when farmers are supported with fertilisers and improved inputs.

He added that the state government, in addition to the 2,000 tonnes provided by the federal government, had procured another 2,000 tonnes of assorted fertiliser, making a total of 4,000 tonnes to support farmers.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting the state government toward supporting farmers and boosting food security.

He said the federal government allocation would be sold directly to farmers, while the remaining 2,000 tonnes would be sold through cooperative societies under which farmers would have the option to repay the government through their harvest.

“This will ensure equitable and fair access to fertiliser by all and sundry, thus guaranteeing optimum price for farm produce and enhanced food security in Gombe State and Nigeria at large,” he added.

The governor explained that a discount of 50 per cent had been granted to all farmers, noting that “a 50-kg bag of NPK fertiliser cost N22,000 and will be delivered to all the 114 political wards.

“We shall ensure that the fertiliser reaches the grassroots by strengthening the sale monitoring system so that the commodity reaches genuine beneficiaries.”

According to him, the ministry of agriculture, animal husbandry and cooperatives, security agencies, and civil society organisations have been directed to closely monitor sales of fertilisers to farmers.

Barnabas Malle, the commissioner for agriculture, animal husbandry and cooperatives, commended the state government for supporting farmers with subsidised fertilisers and inputs in the last five years.

Mr Malle said the fertilisers would assist farmers to cultivate more to boost productivity and food security.

He said measures had been put in place to ensure that the distribution and sale of the commodity was not sabotaged, adding that the exercise would be monitored closely by his ministry.

While also commending the state government for releasing funds for this year’s annual vaccination against trans-boundary animal diseases such as Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), Anthrax, he said the exercise would soon be inaugurated.

According to him, the vaccines have been received from the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) Jos.

He enjoined youths to embrace agriculture to reduce unemployment.

In his goodwill message, Ibrahim Bomai, the coordinator of the federal ministry of agriculture in Gombe state, commended the governor “for providing quality fertiliser in time for Gombe farmers, which will guarantee good yield and enhance food security.”

Mr Bomai said the federal government had been supporting farmers in the state, assuring that Mr Tinubu’s administration remained committed to boosting food security in the country.

(NAN)