Bauchi fertilizer company produces 60,000 tonnes-Yuguda

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauichi

Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi state has announced that the state government had produced 60, 000 tonnes of fertilizer from the state-owned company.

 Yuguda made this known in Toro local government area of Bauchi State at the commencement of fertilizer sale for 2014 farming season. Saying that the fertiliser would be sold at N3, 000 per bag to farmers not registered under the GES.

 Yuguda said that the state government had spent over N5 billion on the procurement of fertilizer since the inception of his administration in 2007.

 The governor said his administration had also purchased chemicals worth N1.7 billion for its fertiliser company.

 He said that the state government had spent N2.6 billion as subsidy on the GES system since its introduction in 2012 while 300 agro-dealers and youths were engaged.

 Yuguda said that his government had constructed additional five warehouses while 31 old ones were renovated as well as the allocation of N240 million to the State Agricultural Procurement Company for the purchase of inputs.

He said that the state government had also purchased 23 tractors under its Pilot Tractors Loan Scheme at the cost of N72 million while awaiting the delivery of additional 100 tractors valued at N1.5

 The governor further said that the state government had purchased and distributed 120 hand tillage machines worth N470 million to smallholder farmers in the state, to enhance the skills of affected

 He said that 120 extension officers were recruited and 120 motorcycles were allocated to them for field operations while 1,307 water pumps were given to Fadama farmers on loan.

 In his remark the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr kinwumi Adesina, said Federal Government has constructed silos worth N1.5 billion and executed various projects in Bauchi State as part of its Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA).

 The Minister who was represented by Alhaji Ibrahim Arabi, the Bauchi Zonal Director of the ministry, Adesina said that the silos were located in Wailo town, Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state.

 He said that the government had provided 36 tonnes of fertilizer to 12,000 dry season farmers at 50 per cent subsidy and provided salt and preservatives to 200 hides and skins dealers as well as 15 livestock to farmers.

 Adesina said that the Federal Government also supplied 22 motorcycles to extension officers on the payroll of the state while substantial number of youths was trained in various agricultural activities.

 He also listed the construction of community warehouses, one-stop gricultural shops, agro-industrial processing estates and feeder roads as some of the ongoing and completed projects initiated by the Federal Government in the state.