Nigeria news : Nigeria’s problem will be compounded if we discard Agriculture amid COVID-19 – Niger govt

The SSG better specified that regardless of the challenge, the state is teaming up with plant food dealerships as well as firms to provide plant foods and also various seeds to farmers at subsidized rates.

Earlier, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Haliru Zakari Jikantoro clarified that the sale of the plant food and also other farming inputs is to cut off the tasks of middlemen in the plant food distribution network in the state.

Speaking, the state Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mallams Shehu Galadima drew the focus of the federal government to faulty plant foods as well as seed startings being sold to the farmers in the state.

He explained that already, the pandemic is threatening agricultural activities for this season and if farming is abandoned, it would have dire consequences on food security of the state and nation at large.

“I believe that the only solution today is to go back to the farms. That is why we are exploring every opportunity to ensure that we maximize farming this year to the benefit of the country and Nigeria.”

The SSG further stated that despite the challenge, the state is collaborating with fertilizer dealers and companies to provide fertilizers and assorted seeds to farmers at subsidized rates.

He revealed that the fertilizers would be sold at N5, 500 per bag NPK while Urea would be sold for N7,000 per bag.

Earlier, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Haliru Zakari Jikantoro explained that the sale of the fertilizer and other agricultural inputs is to cut off the activities of middlemen in the fertilizer distribution network in the state.

He also disclosed that soon a monitoring committee will be set up at the state, local government and ward levels to monitor the sales of the fertilizers and agricultural input.

Speaking, the state Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mallams Shehu Galadima drew the attention of the government to adulterated fertilizers and seedlings being sold to the farmers in the state.

Galadima then called on the state government to take up the issue seriously and bring the perpetrators to book.