Bauchi Gov Flags Off 2020 Farming Season And Other Agricultural Activities
Bauchi State government says arrangements have reached advanced stage to acess N10 billion commercial agricultural credit scheme from the Central Bank of Nigeria to boost the development of agriculture in the state.
Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed annouced this Saturday at the launching of the 2020 farming season, sales of fertilizer and the OCP Africa COVID-19 Palliative Support Project to farmers across the state held in Bauchi.
The Governor who said although the state was not initially included into some federal government major agricultural programmes, noted that with government's concerted effort, the state was now included into the National Livestock Transformation Plan and Livestock Productivity and Resilient Support Project.
Governor Bala Mohammed said in order to revolutionize the sector and to right the wrongs of the past, his administration has started settling the N700 million inherited debt on fertilizer incurred by the last administration to the Nigerian Sovereign Investment.
He said that under the agreement, Bauchi state is able to get out from the black book of the agency as it is now relisted to continue benefitting from the NPK Presidential initiatives.
The Governor announced the purchase of organic fertilizers worth N99 million to support farmers to increase their output in addition to the purchase of the assorted grains worth N150 million as part of the strategic grain reserve program.
"It is my pleasure to address you on this important occasion of the launching of this year's farming season and sales of fertilizer and agricultural inputs, you will recall that, last year, a similar ceremony was performed just few days into the life this administration in Katagum, Zaki Local Government to be precise, where we provided enough fertilizer to farmers, purchased chemicals against agricultural pests as well as supplementary measures provided to control quela birds.
"The event in Zaki laid the framework for our agenda at boosting agriculture in all its ramifications in the state."
"I am glad to inform you that we have started implementing our agricultural policy and it yielding positive result, the Bauchi State Fertilizer Company will bounce back into full scale operations soon."
He said that the state government has repaired some of the abandoned tractors and implements a part from the measures taken to re-organize the tractor hiring services to make it more viable and sustainable.
He noted that, already private agricultural service providers have been engaged to cover all the 20 Local Government Areas of the state to ensure effectiveness of the tractor hiring scheme.
"A total of 5,000 farmers have been registered and each of them will receive 2 bags of NPK fertilizer totalling ten thousand bags
at a subsidized rate under the OCP Africa COVID-19 palliative support to the state."
"These centres have been selected and renovated for the programme at Alkaleri, Ningi and Shira Local Government Areas to take care of the three Senatorial Districts, OCP are also in collaboration with BASAC to develop one stop-shop in five locations in the state to ensure constant supply of fertilizer, agro-chemicals and other inputs."
The Governor said the state government has restored collaboration with OCP Africa of Morocco to develop the agricultural sector in the areas of school laboratory project, agribooster project, expansion and upgrading of the Bauchi Fertilizer Company among others.
Governor Bala Mohammed on the sales of fertilizer, said NPK and Urea would be sold at the rate of five thousand naira and seven thousand naira respectively, with five thousand naira and one thousand naira as subsidy.
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