By Laleye Dipo in Minna
The Niger State Governor Alhaji Mohammed Umaru Bago has flagged off the sale of fertilizer and other farm inputs for the current wet season directing the EFCC, ICPC, DSS and other security agencies to closely monitor the sale.
Bago at the ceremony in Minna on Monday where he spoke in Hausa language because “Farming does not understand English”, said each farmer can buy only 10 bags and that anyone found with more than the number should be apprehended and prosecuted.
The Governor disclosed that the public sale of the commodities will start on Tuesday in Minna adding that the Agriculture Development Project ADP in Minna will be revived to give extension services to farmers in the state.
Alhaji Bago further revealed that the administration will bring in 300 tractors under the soon to be revived state tractor hiring scheme adding that 10 each of the vehicles will be given to the 25 local government areas in the state.
He said next planting season, the state will clear not less than 100 hectares of land for cultivation of different crops and that each local government council will be asked to embark on similar project.
Governor Bago also revealed that the management of the “Bago Foundation” which has been functioning for almost a decade will provide farmers with 300 pumping machines to facilitate irrigation and dry season farming.
He directed youths civil servants and retirees in the state to go back to farming with the assurance that government will give them the necessary support for them to succeed.
The Governor reminded people living in the riverine areas of the state of the warning about imminent flooding by Nigeria Metrological Agency NIMET, saying they should vacate the river banks for their safety.
In an address, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Dr Idris Usman Gbogan disclosed that the governor had given approval for the release of the 2023 counterpart fund for the State Rural Access and Mobility Programme and urged him to extend the same gesture to other agencies.
A bag of NPK brand of fertilizer will sell at government approved rate of N18,000 as against the market price of N22,000.
