The Plateau State Government yesterday flagged off the distribution of 120,000 bags of fertilisers to 40,000 farmers across the state to boost dry-season farming.
The state’s deputy governor, Josephine Piyo, handed over the fertilisers to state coordinators of FADAMA, PADP and NG-CARES for onward distribution to the beneficiaries.
According to her, the gesture was part of the state government’s commitment to supporting farmers and boosting agricultural production.
“We have come together to celebrate the handing over of 120,000 bags of fertilizers to Nigeria Government Covid-19Action Economic Stimulus(NG-CARES) programme in Plateau state, since assumption of office as a government we have interacted with all the donor funded projects in the state and discovered that NG-Cares programme has the potential of transforming our economy and hence the government declared a state of Emergency on the implementation of NG-CARES programme in the state,” she said.
She added that the distribution of the fertilizers would be followed by the construction of 25 access roads from farms to markets across the 17 local government areas of the state.
The deputy governor also said that the NG-CARES programme would also see to the renovation of educational and health facilities, water projects, social transfers to the poorest of the poor, and grants to Nano, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the state.
The State Coordinator of the NG-CARES programme, Dr. Haggai Gutap, affirmed that the program aims to not only support farmers but also bolster the state’s agricultural sector.
“It is a grant to the farmers. So the farmers can use it to improve their production, And so we believe that by doing this, we will subdue the effect of the Covid -19 pandemic on the farmers, and then thereby improving our economy,” Gutap said.
The Commissioner of Agriculture, Samson Ishiaku Bugama, expressed gratitude to the governor for the contribution in the agricultural sector and noted that the fertilizer would greatly enhance food production.
“Anytime the farmers call on you, they are sure that you will come to their aid. To know that farmers will be getting fertilizer, I tell you there will be joy all over the land of Plateau today. 80% of the population are engaged in agriculture,” Bugama said.
He added that the farmers would be trained on how to use the fertilizer properly in order to maximize their yields.
The Program Manager of the Plateau Agricultural Development Program (PADP), Mr. Ishiaku Jilemsam, expressed his fulfilment due to the forthcoming support for farmers.
“Today is the day I am fulfilled. Because our farmers will be fully supported by the government of the state.
“And I want to assure the government that by this gesture , we are determined to ensure that we increase the income of every farmer on the plateau because fertilizer is an input that any farmer can use to increase the income of his activities,” Jilemsam said.
