FROM Sa’adatu MAINA,Yobe
Yobe State Government has officially launched the 2020 fertilizer/tractors allocation and flagging-off of the Seed Multiplication Farm, under the Agricultural Youth Empowerment Programme, as part of efforts to improve the yield and output of farmers in the state.
At the official launch, the Commissioner of Agriculture, Dr Mairo Amshi, said that Governor Mai Mala Buni, in his wisdom deems it fit to make agriculture priority sector of his administration, with the formation of Committee to Revitalize Agriculture in the State to provide numerous recommendations for subsequent implementation.
She also thanked the Governor, for the support he gave the Ministry of Agriculture to conduct a Geo-Enabling Initiatives for Monitoring and Supervision (GEMS) that captured a total of 33450000 small scale farmers and 2,960 large scale farmers.
This forms a comprehensive farmers data bank and the basis for identifying farmers for allocation of inputs across the State.
“Having realized the importance of N.P.K 15:15:15 fertilizer in the improvement of agricultural output and tractors with implements to ease labour for land preparations, Governor Mala Buni, approved reducing the selling prices and selling it at a subsidized and also approved the allocation of the 103 brand new set of MF 375 tractors with implements (harrow, Plough, Ridger and Trailer) under the Ministry’s Tractor Loan Scheme to youth groups, women groups and other stakeholders in agriculture across the State”.
Responding, Governor Maimala Buni stated that as a government, he is conscious of the fact that fertilizer and tractors are necessary inputs for increased agricultural output especially in areas with severe climatic conditions.
“We cannot achieve our objectives of revitalizing agriculture without making Tractor services accessible to our farmers. In this vein, the State Government in conjunction with the 17 Local Government councils in the state, have made available 103 tractors for distribution”.
According to him, all payments for fertilizer should be made in a bank draft payable to Yobe State Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme Account.
“Government has also constituted Fertilizer and Tractor Distribution Committees for the local government councils to check diversion and ensure accountability”.
“All members of these ad-hoc duties should swing into action immediately and ensure that there are fairness, transparency and accountability and proper remittance of the proceeds from the fertilizer sales and repayment of tractor loans into the coffers of the State Government”.
“To further accelerate the pursuance of our goals in agriculture, we have given a boost to the Youth Farm Empowerment programme. Already one thousand hectares of land have been harrowed and planted while fertilizers would be provided free of charge to all participating youth farmers”.
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