Food Sufficiency: Governor Alia Flags Off Sales And Distribution Of Fertilizer To Farmers

Food Sufficiency

By Austin Atondu, Makurdi

OpenLife Nigeria reports that Governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has officially flagged off the 2023 Fertilizer Sales and Distribution to farmers in Benue State.

Performing the exercise Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at the Makurdi Local Government Secretariat Complex, Governor Alia reiterated the commitment of his administration in fulfilling all the promises made on Agriculture in their policy document, “The Strategic Development Plan for a Greater Benue”.

He promised to restructure and strengthen the machinery for Agricultural production and processing through massive investment and partnership.

The Governor also announced immediate procurement and distribution of one hundred trucks of inorganic fertilizers to farmers in all the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

He stated clearly that, one bag of 50kg of NPK fertilizer brand is to be sold to farmers at twelve thousand, five hundred naira only (12, 500), adding that his administration will bear fifty percent of the cost of each 50kg bag of NPK fertilizer with the aim to making the product affordable to all farmers.

The Governor, however, warned that anyone, no matter how highly placed, caught sabotaging the exercise will face severe sanctions.

He bought fifty bags of fertilizer to be given to the most underprivileged farmers present at the event.

Earlier, in his remark, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, represented by the Director, Administration and Supply at the ministry, Nats Adzuu, thanked the governor for providing basic farming incentives to farmers even as he took over at the time the state coffers are virtually empty.

The flag off ceremony attracted the presence of the Speaker of Benue State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh and other members of the house, heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as farmers, amongst others.