Dr Peter Akwe, the Chairman, Nasarawa State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture, has urged coordinators involved in the sales of fertilisers and other farm inputs in the state to ensure that only farmers got the commodities.
This, he said, was to boost food production, generate employment and boost the socio-economic development of the state and the country.
Akwe ( PDP- Obi 1) made the call while addressing newsmen in Lafia on Wednesday.
He said that fertilisers were very important in boosting food production, hence the need for the call.
” I want to commend the efforts of both the Federal Government an the State Government in repositioning the agriculture sector as the importance of agriculture to human and societal development cannot be overemphasised.
” Apart from providing food, agriculture also provides employment opportunities and generates revenue, among other benefits.
” I want to commend the federal government and the state government for launching the fertiliser distribution as this will go a long way in ensuring food security in the state.
” I want to advise here that the distributors are to ensure that non of the beneficiaries is short-changed.
” When the product reaches the beneficiaries, that is the farmer , it will boost food security in the state,” he said.
The lawmaker also urged the beneficiaries to ensure judicious use of the commodity to increase food production.
He assured of the committee’s readiness to support the state government’s efforts to boost food production.
News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that Gov. Abdullahi Sule had on Jan.19 launched the fertiliser sales at subsidised rate, to boost farmers’ efforts in dry season farming for improved agricultural production.
Sule said the fertilisers were being distributed to help the state to achieve sustainable food production, as well as ensure all-year-round farming.
He said that the 300 metric tons of fertilisers would be sold to dry season farmers at N5,000 per bag. (NAN)
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