The Federal Government has commenced distribution of fertilisers to 70,200 farmers affected by flood in Jigawa in 2018.
SEE ALSO: How National Housing Programme Created Employment For Youths – Fashola
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the farmers were among those affected by flood in 19 Local Government Areas of the state in 2018.
NAN also reports that the fertilisers were distributed to the beneficiaries by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) under the Federal Government Emergency Agricultural Intervention to states affected by flood and conflicts in 2018.
Mr Abbani Imam, the Lead Supervisor, Agricultural Intervention in Jigawa, said in Dutse on Monday that no fewer than 523,253 bags of fertiliser (NPK 20:10:10.50 kg) would be distributed to 70,200 farmers in the state.
“As you are aware, there was perennial flooding in 2018 that affected farmers, farmlands and houses in Jigawa.
“So we’re targeting 70,200 farmers to be given 534,523 bags of fertiliser which is equivalent to 950 trucks.
“Farmers from the affected 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state will benefit from this intervention,” Imam said.
He explained that the exercise commenced after Sadiya Umar, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, inaugurated the distribution exercise on June 6 in Dutse.
According to him, the gesture was to assist the farmers return to farm in order to enhance agricultural production as well as food security in the state and the nation at large.
Imam further identified duplication of slip by farmers as one of the major challenges being experienced by the agency in the exercise.
“Our major challenge is duplication of slip by farmers where you see one farmer with multiple slips.
“We also had issues where merchants buy the slip from farmers at a cheaper rate but we’ve discouraged them (farmers) to stop engaging in such practices,” he added.
He also denied social media reports that the farmers were being charged money for the fertilisers.
“It was a rumour. So far, we’ve not seen or caught anyone that collected a dime from beneficiary.
“In fact, we did a radio programme where we sensitised the farmers and urged them to report any official of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) or Local Government Area that demand money from them,” Imam said.
He, therefore, urged the beneficiaries to ensure judicious use of the fertilisers to enhance food production and food security.
Some of the beneficiaries commended the Federal Government for providing them with relief materials to assist them return to their farms.
A Rice farmer, Hajiya Talatu Yangayami, Magaji Garba, commended the Federal Government for the gesture, saying that the intervention came at the right time when farmers were in need of it.
Another beneficiary, Malam Iliyasu Sulaiman, thanked the Federal Government, NEMA for the intervention, saying that it would go a long way in boosting agricultural production.
Alhaji Ali Halliru, also a beneficiary, commended the Federal Government for coming to their aid.
The beneficiaries were given between nine, eight, six and four bags of the fertilisers, depending on quality of crop lost to the flood.