From Bala Ibrahim
Farmers in Jigawa State have expressed fear of not be able to go back to farm due to the higher cost of fertilizer and lost recorded during dry season farming.
Some of the rice farmers on Thursday disclosed this in an interview with Nigerian Times Online regarding their preparation for the wet season farming.
They explained that, many farmers will not be able to go back to farm for the wet season farming because they are unable to recover from the huge losses suffered during the last dry season farming.
“Without government intervention it will be difficult for most of us to return to our farms for raining season farming ‘
“The fertilizer we used to buy ₦40,000 is now being sold at ₦60,000 and what we used to buy at ₦35,000 is now being sold at cost of over ₦45,000”
“We are therefore appealing to Governor Umar Namadi to come to our aid for timely provision of Agricultural inputs support for us to participate in the wet season farming” said Malam Musa a farmer
They also urged the state government to use previous section and distribution procedure used under the Fadama office to ensure that fertiliser and other inputs reach genuine farmers at the grassroots.
“It’s only through Fadama lll office our farmers at the grassroots level get access with the government’s inputs support directly without any hindrance ,” Auwalu Kaci said.
They stressed that timely provision of farming inputs to boost food production and ensure food security in the state.
