FG distributes subsidised wheat farm inputs to 3,000 farmers in Bauchi
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has distributed dry-season wheat farm inputs to 3,000 farmers in Bauchi State to reduce the importation of foreign grains and boost local production in Nigeria.
Speaking in Bauchi during the closing ceremony of the distribution on Thursday, the managing Director of K.T. Doma Investment Ltd who is in charge of Bauchi zone distribution center, Mr. Sadiq Tijjani, said that there were four distribution areas in the state – Bauchi (Toro, Tafawa Balewa, Dass, Bogoro, Kirfi, Alkaleri, Bauchi and Ganjuwa local councils), Azare, Misau, Ningi areas.
According to Sadiq, 1,400 farmers were selected in Bauchi center, 600 in Azare center, 500 in Misau and 500 in Ningi. He said that: “The farmers have been listed and the ICT in Abuja has sent messages to them to come to their centers where they will redeem their inputs.
“In the package, each farmer is given seven NPK15:15:15 fertilizers, three Urea fertilizers, two 50kg bags of wheat seed, four litres of herbicides and 1 litre of organic liquid fertiliser. The government is giving 100kg of the seed free to the farmers. The rest of the inputs amount to N361,000, the farmers are required to pay 50 per cent of the money.
“We have been giving out the inputs since November 15th and we have come to the end of the distribution today. For Bauchi, we have given all the 1,400 inputs to the beneficiaries.”
According to him, farmers are expected to have planted between November 15th and December 15th for a bumper harvest. Sadiq added that the programme is implemented to reduce much dependence on the importation of wheat.
One of the beneficiaries, Abubakar Suleiman, vowed to go to the farm immediately while appreciating the government for assisting the farmers to boost wheat production.