From Esther Akaa, Lafia
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has flagged-off the sale of 600 metric tons of fertiliser for the 2022 dry season farming to boast agricultural production in the state.
Governor Sule, while performing the flag-off sale on Wednesday in Lafia said his administration will continue to support farmers, in order to encourage agricultural production for food security in the state and country at large.
He said the state government was collaborating with the federal government and other agencies towards manpower development, saying that some selected youths in the state have been trained on processing, preservation and packing of some agricultural products for small and medium scale enterprises.
“The flag-off sale of 600 metric tons of fertiliser to dry season farmers is a further demonstration of our commitment to the development to the agricultural sector.
“We bought the fertilisers at the price of N9,300 per bag and as a government, we want to support our farmers so we are selling at the lower price of N7,000 per bag,” he added.
The governor therefore, called on the chairmen of the 13 local government areas in the state to work with the traditional and community leaders to ensure that the farm inputs only get to the dry season farmers in the state for the benefit of the state.
In a remark, the Chairman, All farmers Association in Nasarawa State, Mr Samuel Meshi, while thanking the governor for his continued support to farmers in the state, said Nasarawa was already leading in sesame and cassava production in the country.
“We want to put on record that Nasarawa State is already leading nationally on sesame production. We are also leading in cassava production. We are second after Benue in yam production. This shows that farmers in the state are making the best use of the opportunities given by the state government.
He, therefore, called on farmers in the state to be cautious on the sale of their farm produce, in order to avoid going back to the market to buy what they have sold.
Earlier, in a welcome remark, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, Mr Nuhu Bunu said Governor Sule has demonstrated his commitment towards achieving food security, which according to him, has attracted several investors to the state.
He called on farmers to make judicious use of the opportunity given them for bumper harvest, in order to make the state proud.