Taraba farmers are in for the biggest boost in the state’s history as 20,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer would soon arrive to coincide with the farming season. Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku who made this revelation at the weekend said the initiative is in conjunction with the federal government drive in providing fertilizer. Speaking through the Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Emmanuel Bello, the governor noted that agriculture is central to the rescue mission.
Bello said, “Governor Darius is committed to farmers welfare because Taraba is one of the most blessed place for agricultural investments in terms soil and endowments. As I speak to you now, the farmers would start getting fertilizer in the next few days. In fact the trucks would start arriving on Monday. We are starting with places where the rains have started falling. Takum for instance would take care of Kurmi and Ussa while Bali would store up for Gashaka and Sarduana. The commissioner, Dr David Kassa, just told me that he’s in Abuja to finalise the matter and lifting to Abuja should begin on Monday. It is the biggest inflow of fertilizer in the history of the state.
Closely on the heels of this is the provision of tractors. Bello said, ” in the past, we buy tractors and take them to the Tractor Hiring Unit (THU) and it is always a sad story. Farmers don’t get them. But now the governor has approved and one hundred and fifty tractors are coming. The governor would commission them soon.”
Bello revealed further that the governor is looking at enhancing food security in the state through bumper harvest. “Our governor is a farmer himself, so he knows the imperatives of good seedlings and other aspects of the agric sector that would enhance harvest. The agricultural revolution for him is one that addresses food security, employment and generate revenue for the state.”
According to him, while some of the initiatives are aimed at food security like in cassava, maize and rice, sesame production is for internally generated revenue purposes. “The governor has approved for improved seedlings for cassava, maize and soybeans. We can also become a major exporter for rice.”
