330,252 Farmers Receive 25% Fertilizer Subsidies In Sokoto

By Abdallah el-Kurebe
Of the 33,210 tonnes of fertilizers provided by the federal government for the current farming season, 330,252 farmers, registered under the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES), have received 25 percent subsidy (N1.37 billion) from Sokoto state government.
Governor Aliyu Wamakko disclosed this in Shagari town at the launching of the 2014 fertilizer sales and distribution and the roll-out of the GES on Thursday.
He added that the state government received 3,750 tones of improved rice seeds, 300 tonnes of rice seeds and twelve trucks of agrolysers, among others.
According to the governor, “All brands of fertilizers under GES, including NPK, Urea and SSP, will be sold to the farmers at N2,750 per bag.
“The state government also procured additional 4,500 tonnes of fertilizers worth N562 million for farmers.”
Re-stating his administration’s priority shift to the agricultural sector, Wamakko also announced that the state government had procured 1,000 tiller machines worth N169 million for distribution to the farmers.
Challenging the people of the state to turn to agriculture, the governor warned officials charged with the sales of the commodity against politicizing the gesture.
The state commissioner for agriculture, Alhaji Arzika Tureta commended the governor for according the sector the required attention. “This is crucial as food security is next to nothing and Wamakko deserves a commendation,” he said.