Hadejia (Jigawa) – Some farmers in Hadejia, Jigawa have called on Jigawa government to distribute fertilisers using the Short Message Service (SMS), to guard against diversion of the commodities.
A cross section of the farmers made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Hadejia.
NAN recalls that the state government had announced plans to distribute about 5, 000 metric tons of assorted fertilisers to farmer for dry season farming.
Malam Hadi Aina, a farmer, said the call was imperative to ensure that the commodity got to the genuine farmers.
Aina alleged that they did not receive fertilisers and other inputs distributed by the government during the past rainy season due to diversion of the commodity.
He noted that distribution of the commodity through committees was making it difficult for genuine farmers to benefit from the exercise.
The farmer lamented that they were sourcing the commodity at exorbitant prices in the open market, a trend which affected productivity.
“It is desirable to distribute fertilisers and inputs direct to the farmers to guard against diversion.
“Government should adopt similar method applied under the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme, to distribute fertilisers through individual’s phone number.
“Under GES programme, farmers have access to fertilisers and inputs without difficulties.
“We call for application of the same methods in the distribution exercise,” he said.
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Alhaji Ahmad Gambo, another farmer, commended the state government over the distribution of fertilisers to farmers.
Gambo said that the gesture would end scarcity and encourage agricultural activity in the state.
NAN reports, however, that the Federal Government had so far distributed 1, 000 bags of improved seeds to farmers for dry season activity in the state.
Other implements distributed include 130 water pumps; 50 grain thrashers and 250 knap sack sprayers.
The items were distributed at subsidised rate under the wheat and rice cultivation scheme initiated by President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to statistics by the Jigawa chapter of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), over 150, 000 irrigation farmers were registered under the GES scheme in the state. (NAN)
