By Abdullahi Idris, Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has established a committee to oversee the distribution of seventy trucks ...
By Abdullahi Idris, Bauchi
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has established a committee to oversee the distribution of seventy trucks of assorted fertilizer donated to Bauchi State farmers by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the Government House in Bauchi, the Governor commended the Federal Government for this gesture, which he said would significantly support grassroots farmers, enhancing their farming activities and boosting production in the state.
Governor Bala Mohammed stated that the state government has already embarked on the sale of NPK fertilizer for the 2024 farming season at a subsidized rate of twenty thousand naira per bag. He directed relevant agencies to ensure that the commodities are made available to farmers across all 20 LGAs of the State.
Represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Auwal Jatau, the Governor also mentioned that the state has distributed 20 units of tractors, 94 rice milling machines, 47 groundnut decorticating machines, 47 multipurpose threshers, 470 knapsack sprayers, six animal feed crushers, and 20 tricycles to assist eligible farmers for the 2024 farming season.
Additionally, the State Government has supported 10 communities through a Community Revolving Fund (CRF), with each beneficiary receiving a cheque of $25,000, totaling $250,000 through the state's ACReSAL Funds.
"All these efforts are geared towards complementing the Federal Government's efforts towards food security in our dear state and the country in general. Despite the enormous challenges and limited resources of the State Government, which make it difficult to support and grow all economic sub-sectors simultaneously, the Government has prioritized agriculture as it deserves.
"In an effort to consolidate our agricultural transformation initiative, my Government is planning to acquire heavy-duty agricultural equipment to raise the level of agricultural production and ensure food security in the State."
The Governor outlined some of the committee's terms of reference, including designing criteria for the selection of genuine farmers and farmers' associations across the State, ensuring fair distribution of the assorted fertilizer to the benefiting farmers, and submitting a report to the State Government within three weeks.
The Governor, noting that Bauchi State is blessed with abundant land, human, and natural resources, assured that his administration would properly harness and utilize them for the overall economic development of the state.
Responding, the chairman of the committee, Alh. Nuhu Ahmed Wabi, who is the Emir of Jama’are, expressed gratitude to the state government for finding them worthy to serve on the committee and promised to ensure justice and equity in the distribution process.
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