Farmers Receive 300 Tonnes Of Fertiliser In FCT

The Federal Capital Territory has allocated 300 tonnes of fertiliser to Bwari Area Council for distribution to farmers during the 2011 farming season.

The chairman of the council, Mr. Peter Yohanna, said this in Bwari at the flag-off ceremony of the sale of fertiliser for the farming season.

“Our administration takes very seriously the issue of agriculture because of its direct bearing on the people of the area council.

“As we all know, about 80 to 90 per cent of the people of Bwari Area Council engage in farming either directly or indirectly for their livelihood.

“It is in view of this fact that I personally promised that fertiliser shall be made available to every genuine farmer in the council at subsidised rates,” Yohanna said.

The chairman, who said the official price of NPK/Urea was N2,100 per bag, noted that the council would sell the commodity to farmers at N1,500 per bag.

“To further deliver the dividends of democracy to our people, the administration has purchased three new tractors, through the Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat of the FCT to boost agricultural activities in the council,” he said.

Yohnna assured farmers that agrochemicals would be purchased and distributed to farmers at affordable prices to enable the council maintain its position as the food basket of the FCT.

He, however, warned that diversion of fertiliser in the area would not be tolerated and called on traditional rulers to ensure equity in the distribution of the commodity.

“As you are aware, every country of the world is striving toward self-sufficiency in food production in the face of a very rapid population increase.

“It is in line with this fact that the federal government has never relented in ensuring that agricultural inputs such as fertiliser and agrochemicals are procured and distributed annually to farmers at subsidised rates”, he said.

Yohanna said with the influx of people into the FCT, concerted efforts were needed to boost agriculture in order to avert food crisis and poverty.

Mr. Isaac Adegboro, the Supervisory Councillor on Agriculture, commended the FCT administration for making the fertiliser available to farmers in the area on time.

Adegboro assured the farmers that the distribution of the commodity would be monitored to ensure even distribution.