Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State says 50% of the total fertilizer in stock will be sold directly to farmers, while the remaining 50% will be sold to cooperative societies, who will in turn be given the option to repay the government through their harvests.
The Governor made this known during the flagging off of the sales and distribution of subsidized fertilizer to farmers for the 2024 wet season farming and as part of the sustained efforts to boost agriculture in the state.
He said the 2024 farming season had 4,000 tons of fertilizer in stock and he would ensure its equitable and fair access by all to guarantee optimum price for farm produce and enhanced food security in Gombe State and Nigeria as a whole.
Governor Yahaya also announced a discount of 50% to all farmers, thereby selling a 50kg bag of NPK at N22,000 naira in all the 114 political wards in the state.
During the flag-off, Governor Yahaya highlighted his administration’s continued commitment to support the agricultural sector in the state, while pledging to key into the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope initiatives in the agricultural sector to ensure food security for the state and the nation.
“Gombe State, being the heartbeat of the North East sub-region, is predominantly agrarian, with about 85% of our population engaged in farming. Supporting and developing this sector is crucial to overcoming food security challenges and driving economic growth for the sub-region and Nigeria at large,” Governor Inuwa said.
The governor further underscored the importance of timely access to agricultural inputs, particularly fertilizers, to increase crop yields and enhance food production.
He said because of that his administration had since its inception, continued to maintain the tradition of distributing agricultural inputs and equipment early every wet farming season.
“With the distribution of these fertilizers, we are taking a decisive step towards ensuring that our farmers have the necessary resources to cultivate their land effectively during this wet season. Our goal is to not only achieve food self-sufficiency but also to position Gombe as a key contributor to Nigeria’s agricultural output,” Governor Yahaya said.
He further expressed gratitude to the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting his administration’s efforts to transform the agricultural sector by allocating 2,000 tons of fertilizers to Gombe State this farming season.
The Gombe state governor said to complement the gesture, the state government also procured an additional 2,000 tons of assorted fertilizers, making a total of 4,000 tons for distribution to the farmers.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya also highlighted the takeaways from his recent official trip to Morocco on advancing agriculture in Gombe state, saying “My recent visit to the Kingdom of Morocco was focused on establishing robust partnerships in agriculture among other sectors. We are eager to leverage on Morocco’s advanced agricultural technology to transform our agricultural sector and bring a new era of agricultural development in Gombe State.”
He further reiterated the administration’s multifaceted approach to agriculture, which includes modernizing farming techniques, providing high-quality seeds, and facilitating access to other support from partners within and outside Nigeria, stressing that the government’s efforts are aimed at transforming agriculture from subsistence to a more commercial and sustainable practice while positioning Gombe state as an agriculture hub of the Northeast sub-region.
He also called on the farmers to utilize the fertilizers and other equipment earlier distributed judiciously and adopt best farming practices to maximize their yields, noting that the government will continue to monitor and support them throughout the season to ensure optimal use of the inputs provided.
The Gombe state commissioner of agriculture, animal husbandry and cooperatives, Dr. Barnabas Malle, explained that the timely distribution of this year’s fertilizer was a confirmation of Governor Yahaya’s unrelenting efforts and strong determination to develop the agricultural sector.
He commended the governor for re-constituting the prevention and settlement of disputes between farmers and herders, and the procurement of vaccines for the annual vaccination against trans-boundary animal diseases among many interventions aimed at boosting the agricultural sector in the state.
Dr. Malle gave the assurances that the ministry would ensure the judicious and equitable distribution of fertilizer to the farmers, maintaining that the ministry would not condone any form of diversion and would collaborate with relevant authorities to ensure that those willing to engage in the act are prevented.
The Gombe state Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Ibrahim Bomoi, noted that the timely distribution of fertilizer by the administration of Governor Yahaya formed part of a synergy between the State and Federal government to bolster agricultural development in the country.
He expressed appreciation to Governor Yahaya for his unrelenting efforts in rolling out policies and programmes that encourage food security and agricultural development in general, especially the donation of a piece of land to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to construct a Veterinary Complex in the state.
The District Head of Nasarawo and overseeing Senior District Head of Gombe state, Alhaji Usman Shettima, who spoke on behalf of the traditional institution and the beneficiary farmers, thanked Governor Yahaya for the timely procurement and distribution of fertilizer at a 50% discounted rate, stressing that the gesture will go a long way to assist farmers in their farming endeavours.
