Zamfara Distributes 4,200 Tonnes Of Fertiliser

More than 4,200 tonnes of assorted fertilisers have been approved for immediate distribution to irrigation farmers in Zamfara to kick start the 2010 dry season farming in the state.

Governor Mahmuda Shinkafi of Zamfara, disclosed this last Thursday at the launching of the 2010 dry season farming in Bakura Local Government Area of the state.

Shinkafi said that government had pegged the price of the commodity at N2, 800 per bag.

Represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Mukhtar Anka, he said that government had also approved the distribution of irrigation pumping machines at subsidised rates of N12, 000.

The governor also said that free tractor services would be given to the farmers.

He said that farmers, whose farms were destroyed by the flood that ravaged the area during the last rainy season would be expected to pay only 50 per cent of the cost of the fertiliser now.

Shinkafi said that the balance would be paid after the harvest period. 

He said the early preparation for the 2010 irrigation farming was informed by government’s resolve to commit sufficient resources to rejuvenate agriculture, which is the mainstay of the state economy.

“In recognition of its critical role in our economy, agriculture has continued to receive top most priority from this administration.

“This is on conviction that it accounts for 90 per cent of our gross domestic products,” he said.

Shinkafi explained that dry season farming played sufficient complementary role to wet season faming and helped in guaranteeing Nigeria’s food security drive.

He said that government’s ultimate dream was to build a strong, viable and sustainable agricultural economy, which would provide food and realistic income to the rural populace.

Earlier, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Ibrahim Bakura, urged farmers to repay agricultural loans they took during the last farming season.

He said that while the government would not want to take any punitive measure to recover the loans, which farmers collected in form of agricultural inputs, government would not compromise its repayment.