Warns Against Diversion Of Commodity

The Sokoto State Government has flagged off free distribution of another consignment of fertilisers to farmers across the state, for the dry season farming.

Governor Ahmed Aliyu, who flagged-off the distribution at Wamakko Local Council Area, said the gesture was aimed at supporting peasants in the state with free fertilisers and other necessary farm inputs for them to produce food for both subsistent and commercial purposes.

He said the fertilisers were meant to assist the dry season farmers and other FADAMA users to produce food en masse. Gov. Aliyu said: “If you could recall, during the last wet season farming, we flagged off the free distribution of fertilisers and other farm inputs in Dange Shuni local council, in our modest attempt to make farming more attractive.”

According to him, the Sokoto State Government had earlier distributed agricultural inputs during last rainy season, which included 45,366 bags of NPK; 24,264 bags of Urea; 20,664 liters of agro- chemicals and 20,000kg each of rice, sorghum and millet seeds to farmers across the state.

Similarly, he said the youths and women groups received 1000 water pumps, 23 multipurpose threshers, 3000 tomato grinding machines and 58 rice threshing machines, all free of charge.

He added that each of the 23 local councils will receive three trucks of assorted fertilisers for the dry season farming, saying the idea was to ensure improved agricultural outputs and create more job opportunities for the teeming youths, especially at the grassroots.

“In our bid to boost irrigation activities in the state, I would like to once again inform you that the Kware Irrigation Scheme, covering 450 hectares had been completed and would soon be allocated to our farmers.

“Similarly, work has also commenced at the Wurno Irrigation Scheme, while the rehabilitation work of Lugu Dam has been awarded and work would soon commence,” Gov. Aliyu said. He, however, warned against diverting the commodity, vowing that those caught doing so would face the full wrath of the law.

The Governor called on serving and retired civil servants, politicians, businessmen and women in the state to take advantage of the myriad of opportunities provided by the state government to make agriculture attractive.