FG Distributes Subsidised Fertiliser to 6000 Farmers in Kano

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture on Thursday, begun the distribution of 16,000 bags of fertilizer to 6,000 wheat farmers across the state in this dry farming season.

The State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Isah Isyaku Hotoro, said the initiative was meant to increase the size of the food basket of the nation.

He said: “This is a special program that was designed to capture farmers, smallholder farmers, the medium and of course the large-scale farmer in wheat production.

“And it is expected that the productivity per unit area of the farmers will be increased, and the expected returns of the farmers will also be increased.

“Farmers, especially the smallholder farmers with an average holding of 0.5 hectares, are expected to benefit with three bags of fertilizer, one bag of 50 kg wheat seed”.

The coordinator further explained that the distribution is expected to cover 3,000 hectares of land across all the 44 local governments areas of the state.

He pointed out that, on the rate of the subsidy given by the government to the farmers, 75% subsidy on three bags of fertilizer and one bag of wheat seed for which they pay only N111,000 for the package.

A beneficiary, Sudawa Abdullahi of Bunkure Local Government Area said the scheme is timely as it will reduce the importation of wheat into the country by enhancing the food basket of the nation.

According to Abdullahi, “The program is good, notwithstanding there are backdrop or backlash which we hope the government will address.

“The issue of the timing should be addressed as this is 19th of December but the goods have not been distributed yet. We want the government to commence the distribution around October for the irrigation farming.”