The Sokoto State Commissioner for Agriculture, Umaru Nagwari, on Thursday announced that the government plans to purchase 9,000 metric tonnes of fertilisers and 16,000 water pumps worth about N1.7billion.
Mr Nagwari made the disclosure in Sokoto while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the state executive council meeting.
According to him, the assorted fertilisers and water pumps will be distributed to both dry and rainy season farmers across the 23 local governments of the state.
Nagwari stated further that the fertilisers which comprised of Urea and NPK brands will be bought at about N 8,000 per bag and would be sold to the farmers at 75 percent subsidy.
“The state government will also heavily subsidise the water pumps so as to enable the farmers to produce more food for the state and Nigeria in general,” he added.
The commissioner also disclosed that the council, headed by Governor Aminu Tambuwal, has approved the purchase of Faro rice seeds worth about N392million for distribution free to the farmers.
Nagwari further said that the state government has since conducted a comprehensive census of all genuine farmers across the state.
“This gesture is part of the measures put in place by the state government to ensure that only genuine farmers were given the commodities. This is in a bid to make a difference from the previous system where there were complaints of bias in the distribution of the commodities.
“The present administration in the state is poised to ensuring that all genuine farmers get these commodities right on time and devoid of any political party, ethnic or religious differences.
“Food security is next to nothing and the state government will not in any way toy with its sustainable provision to the people of the state,” Nagwari, added.
Similarly, the council endorsed the planned establishment of a tomato processing company and tractors assembling company in collaboration with Erisco Foods Limited.
