Sokoto Govt to purchase N1.7 bn fertilizer, water pumps -- Commissioner


Sokoto State Government plans to purchase 9,000 metric tonnes of fertilizers and 16,000 units of water pumps worth about N 1.7 billion for this cropping season.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Umaru Nagwari made the disclosure on Thursday in Sokoto while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the state executive council meeting.

According to Nagwari, the assorted fertilizers and water pumps will be distributed to both dry and rainy season farmers across the 23 local governments of the state.

He stated further that the commodity, comprising Urea and NPK brands, would be bought at the cost of about N8, 000 per bag and sold to farmers at 75 per cent subsidy.

``The state government will also heavily subsidize the water pumps so as to enable farmers produce more food for the state and Nigeria in general,'' he added.

The commissioner added that the government had approved N392 million for the purchase of rice seeds for distribution free to farmers.

Nagwari disclosed that the state government had conducted 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 are given the commodities.

``This is in a bid to make a difference from the previous system where there were complaints of biases in the distribution of the commodities.

``The present administration in the state is poised to ensure that all genuine farmers get these commodities on time, irrespective of political, 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.

The commissioner said that the council had endorsed the planned establishment of a Tomato processing company and tractor assembling plant in collaboration with Erisco Foods Limited.



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