From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia
Supply of fertilizer for this years cropping season has began in Nasarawa state, with an initial supply of 70 trucks of the commodity expected to arrive before the end of the week.
Danladi Madaki Usha, state commissioner of Agriculture, disclosed this to journalists in his office yesterday.
The agric commissioner explained that, out of the proposed 200 trucks of fertilizer earmarked for use of farmers across the state this year, 70 trucks have been already approved by Governor Umaru Tank Al-makura, with the delivery commencing yesterday.
He disclosed further that, aware of the lapses in reaching the real farmers in the sales of the fertilizer, government has devised a means of curtailing the activities of dubious persons diverting the commodity.
“We are going to make sure that the supplies are taken directly to the local government headquarters to be kept in custody of council officials” he said.
On the price of the commodity, the commissioner added further that government is considering reviewing the price against that of last year, which he said was sold at N3000 per bag but for which many rural farmers could not afford.
The commissioner used the opportunity to explain why the state government could not key into the federal government’s program on fertilizer distribution.
According to Usha, after a careful study, government realized there is a lot of fraud regarding the e-wallet fertilizer scheme.
“How many of our rural farmers can be able to buy fertilizer through the phone?” he asked.
Usha said a date for the official flagging off for the fertilizer distribution will be made known soon.
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