Gombe – Farmers in Gombe State have commended the state government for its procurement and sale of fertiliser at subsidised rates to farmers in the lead up to the 2017 farming season.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo recently announced that a bag of NPK fertiliser would be sold at N4,800 and a bag of Urea fertiliser at N5,800, as against their prevailing market prices of N8,500 and N5,800 respectively.
Some of the farmers, who spoke to NAN in Gombe on Tuesday, expressed delight at the development.
One of the farmers, Malam Bala Garba, said that the subsidy came at the right time, particularly when many farmers were in dire need of fertiliser for their crop growing.
Garba said that the gesture would boost their productivity and promote the food security of the state and the country at large.
According to him, the price of the government fertiliser is cheaper, when compared with the commercial rate.
“If you go to the market today, marketers are selling a bag of NPK and Urea fertiliser at N8, 300 and N8, 500, as against N4, 800 for NPK and 5, 800 for Urea by the government,” he said.
Another farmer, Malam Ibrahim Muhammad, also commended Dankwambo for coming to the aid of farmers at this austere period with the fertiliser subsidy and provision of farm inputs.
“We commend the giant strength the governor displayed in kick-starting the sales and distribution of farm inputs for this year’s farming season, regardless of the current economic situation in the country.
“The state government has graciously provided improved seeds for farmers, apart from the fertiliser, while rehabilitating many tractors in efforts to boost the production of farmers in the state,” he said.
Muhammad said that the sale and distribution of fertiliser by the government would somewhat encourage marketers to reduce the prices of food and other farm produce.
He regretted the high cost of fertiliser in the markets had made the commodity beyond the reach of many farmers.
“Many fertiliser sellers have increased its price and even made it scarce in the state.
“Sometime ago, I bought a bag of NPK fertiliser at the cost of N7, 000; three days later, it rose to N7, 500 and now is N8, 500.
“Besides, the price of the Federal Government fertilisers is between N5, 500 and N6, 500 per bag,” he added.
Malam Muhammad Kalshingi, also a farmer, urged the government to frustrate any effort of some unscrupulous persons to divert the product, adding that government should strive to ensure that the fertiliser reached genuine farmers in the state.
Kalishingi said that if well distributed, the fertiliser supply would reduce the hardships facing farmers in the state.
He also appealed for regular and prompt inauguration of fertiliser sales, among other activities, to enable farmers to plan ahead. (NAN)