Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has flagged off sales and distribution of fertilisers for 2022 farming season at Dukul, Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State. Speaking during the ceremony, the governor said that distribution of subsidised fertilisers was part of his campaign promises aimed at boosting agriculture, ensuring food security, providing employment and broadening the revenue base of the state. Governor Inuwa said about 7,500 (Seven thousands five hundred) tonnes of fertilisers have already been procured for onward distribution to local farmers at the grassroots. Speaking on the pattern of the distribution, the governor said, “In line with our normal practice, fertiliser will be supplied directly to the local government areas for onward sale and distribution through the polling units so as to reach the grassroots”.
To ensure the commodity reaches its intended beneficiaries, the governor directed the ministry of agriculture and all relevant security agencies to ensure strict compliance with the guidelines of sale and distribution exercise. Announcing the price for the fertilizers, Governor Inuwa said, “NPK 15:15:15 will be sold at 19,000 Naira as against about 25,000 in the markets and NPK 20:10:10 be sold at 15,000 Naira per bag instead of about 20,000 market price”. He appealed to the farmers to cooperate with those assigned with the responsibilities of sales and distribution across the state for the success of the exercise. He also cautioned them against diversion or any form of mismanagement, adding that the law will take its course on anybody found wanting. Governor Yahaya attributed the delay in this season’s sales and distribution of the commodity to security issues and other technical challenges in the production, procurement and distribution processes associated with the exercise. The governor confirmed that despite these challenges however, “through the doggedness and perseverance of our Ministry of Agriculture we have been able to overcome these challenges and record a remarkable success”.
He maintained that Gombe State is largely an agrarian state with over 80%of its population engaged in Agriculture. “Supporting this sector is therefore crucial to economic development, food security and sustainable livelihood for our people”, the governor noted. The governor appreciated the efforts of the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari for supporting agricultural activities in Gombe state, citing the dry season wheat farming undertaken in collaboration with National Agricultural Land Development Agency, NALDA and establishment of Farming Centers in Collaboration with North East Development Commission, NEDC as good instances. He explained that his government has engaged in different projects and programmes to revamp agriculture in Gombe with the state keying into many agricultural initiatives at both state, regional and national levels to boost productivity. “We are a key stakeholder in the National Livestock Transformation Program with the Wawa-Zange Grazing reserve as a model project, we are tapping into the great irrigation potentials of our three major dams of Dadin Kowa, Cham and Balanga in order to promote large-scale irrigation activities, our farm service centers are being revived to serve as one-stop shops of agricultural services and we allocated about 250 hectares out of the 1000 hectares earmarked for the Gombe Industrial Park for the purpose of developing an Agricultural Industrial Cluster in order to provide room for enhancement of the agriculture value chain through the processing of agricultural commodities that are highly abound.
” These, together with many donor-driven and private sector-led initiatives are turning Gombe’s agricultural sector around by diversifying our economy, improving productivity, enhancing revenue generation, creating jobs and promoting food security. We will continue to give our maximum support for the overall progress and development of the sector”. He used the occasion to urged farmers and herders to live in harmony with one another and avoid infringing on others properties and rights for peace to reign in Gombe state and the nation. The governor pledged continued support to agricultural sector, saying “We will continue to give our maximum support for the progress and development of this sector considering the role its play in the overall socioeconomic development”. He also unveiled his government’s plan to establish more agricultural centres in Gombe State. He said, “It is our intention to provide a farm centre in each and every ward of Gombe state. Altogether, we intend to have 114 functional and operational farm service centres across the state”.
Speaking at the occasion, Director in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Musa Inuwa extolled Governor Inuwa’s efforts to overhaul agricultural sector in Gombe state thereby making it more productive. He commended the Governor excellent leadership which he said makes Gombe to stand tall among it’s peers. “It is through His Excellency’s perseverance, exemplary leadership and resilience that today Gombe is among the states that are earmarked to benefit from the 500 million US dollars World Bank Funded livestock Productivity, Resilience Enhancement Support, LPRES Project”. He also praised the cordial working relationship between the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Gombe State Government, the synergy that he said, “has positively impacted on the development of agriculture in Gombe state”. Earlier Speaking, the Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Hon. Muhammad Magaji Gettado thanked Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for giving agricultural sector the attention it deserves, explaining that since the inception of this administration, the governor has been consistent in providing all the needed funds and necessary support for agricultural development in the state. The commissioner cited large scale dry season wheat farming, mass animals vaccination, establishments/preservation of grazing reserves, prevention and settlement of farmer-herder conflicts among others as some of the important areas Gombe state is excelling under Governor Inuwa Yahaya. He said, Gombe State is at the forefront in subscribing to the national agricultural interventions, the development he attributed to Governor Inuwa’s commitment in providing the counterpart funding and other necessary support. “Gombe State is at the top of the list of beneficiaries of federal government agricultural projects and is doing very well in that regard”, he said.
