Farmers in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau have commended the state government’s subsidised fertiliser intervention but called for greater transparency in beneficiary registration, selection, and distribution.

The farmers made the call on Saturday at the fertiliser store in Pankshin, where distribution was underway across the local government area.

The farmers commended the government for making the commodity available at a subsidised rate, noting that the intervention had made fertiliser more affordable amid prevailing market prices.

Cecilia Yiljir, one of the farmers, described the intervention as commendable, saying the subsidised fertiliser was cheaper than the prevailing market price.

According to her, the intervention is a true testament to the government’s commitment to boosting food production in the state and supporting farmers facing rising input costs.

Ms Yiljir, however, alleged that some politicians had influenced the registration and selection of beneficiaries, saying the process had left several deserving farmers without access to fertiliser.

“These fertilisers are meant for all farmers; they are not meant for any specific individual, group or political party. But we have seen how politicians have hijacked the exercise.

“When the government delegation came from Jos sometime in February to register farmers, they complained of hunger and lack of accommodation.

“The politicians provided feeding and accommodation for them. In return, the officials secretly registered the politicians’ candidates, leaving us in the queue because we did not have anyone to speak for us,” she said.

She said the officials later asked the farmers to write their names on a piece of paper, promising to take the list to Jos, but their names were missing when the final list was released.

Similarly, Philibus Kamshue, a resident of Gwabi-Gassarak in Pankshin LGA, thanked the state government for the intervention, although he said the fertiliser arrived late.

Mr Kamshue, however, said his major concern was how beneficiaries were selected, alleging that several registered farmers were excluded despite participating in registration.

“I was the one who mobilised my community to go and register. But the funniest thing was that, out of 90 farmers who registered, only nine were selected.

“Right before my eyes, I saw individuals coming with multiple codes to claim fertiliser.

“If the process were truly transparent, no beneficiary would have more than one code,” he said.

Nensun Datit, another farmer, commended the government’s plans for farmers but said he was not a beneficiary of the exercise, despite his efforts to participate.

Mr Datit alleged that information about fertiliser distribution often reached farmers after politicians had registered their families and party members, leaving others without timely access.

He said, “I would be more comfortable if the government openly stated that they are bringing fertilisers for their party faithful, instead of using poor farmers for cheap political gains.

“Many people in this area did not benefit from the exercise, but they watched as different trucks came to load the products and take them to unknown destinations.

“The same fertilisers are being sold by dealers in the open market at exorbitant prices. Is that fair?”

Peter Namwa, a staff member of the Plateau Ministry of Agriculture and coordinator of the exercise, said the intervention was designed to make fertiliser available to farmers at a subsidised price.

Mr Namwa said he was not involved in selecting beneficiaries but believed the process was transparent, explaining that the ministry’s ICT unit handled registration details.

“After registering the farmers, we send their details to the ICT unit of the ministry, which generates and sends a code to the selected farmers.

“I assure you, no politician or marketer comes here to load fertiliser.

“The trucks people are complaining about only come to pick up supplies for other beneficiaries using their codes, rather than having everyone come individually,”  he said.

He said the state government subsidised NPK and Urea fertilisers at N20,000 per bag, with each beneficiary entitled to two bags under the intervention.

The storekeeper, Pius Nitmup, said Pankshin LGA received 10 truckloads of NPK and 3.5 truckloads of Urea, totalling 10,950 bags for distribution to farmers.

(NAN)