Katsina gives farmers fertilizer at N1, 700

The three tiers of government, have shouldered the responsibility of supplying the commodity to farmers annually with a view to improving their productivity. However, farmers’ major complaints with regards to procurement and distribution of fertiliser has always been inadequate supply and to some extent, lack of access to it.Although farmers in virtually all the 36 […]

The three tiers of government, have shouldered the responsibility of supplying the commodity to farmers annually with a view to improving their productivity. However, farmers’ major complaints with regards to procurement and distribution of fertiliser has always been inadequate supply and to some extent, lack of access to it.
Although farmers in virtually all the 36 states of the federation face similar problems in respect of the purchase and distribution of fertiliser, states have differed concerning the method adopted in the procurement and distribution of the commodity to farmers. They also vary on the quantity of the commodity needed annually and its price.
In Katsina State, the present administration has introduced a workable structure for the supply and distribution of fertilisers to farmers in the state. First, government has made it mandatory that every year it must keep a minimum of 30, 000 metric tons of fertilisers in its warehouse. as standby.
Secondly, the initial quantity of fertiliser needed by farmers in the state every year is 23, 000 metric tons, but in an effort to provide farmers with adequate quantity of the commodity, government is purchasing no less than 40, 000 metric tons of assorted fertiliser annually for onward sales to farmers at a subsidized price of N1, 700 per bag, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Musa Adamu Funtua, said.
Thirdly, the government had also set up three zonal committees to supervise distribution of the commodity to the beneficiaries in Katsina, Funtua and Daura senatorial zones. The committees were formed to ensure that the commodity reaches the farmers. In addition to the three committees, Daily Trust learnt there was also a steering committee headed by the Commissioner for Agriculture, which is responsible for supervising the activities of the three zonal committees.
Not only that, the zonal committees were also saddled with responsibility for enlightening the farmers on anything regarding the quantity of fertilisers purchased by government, mode of distribution of the commodity as well as venue and time slated for the sales of the commodity.
Also, to minimize the difficulties faced by farmers during the distribution of the commodity, government has categorized farmers in the state into three major groups of large, medium and small scale farmers. Each group, according to the state commissioner, is receiving its fertiliser allocation independently.
He said government is sharing the commodity among farmers through polling units and the minimum quantity of fertilisers a polling unit can get was 85 bags. The commissioner also said to ensure proper monitoring of the distribution exercise, his ministry has provided some GSM phone numbers to farmers to lodge their complaints whenever the need arises. He said: “These phone lines are always available in case our farmers discover any diversion of fertilisers or they encounter problems with people saddled with the responsibility of the distribution of the commodity.”
He pointed out that farmers in the state were enlightened on the mode of distribution and the quantity allocated to each polling unit therefore any shortfall to their supplies, will draw the attention of the ministry and it will act promptly.
Additionally, the commissioner said, government has involved security agencies in the distribution exercise of the commodity and therefore whoever is caught diverting the commodity, government will not take it lightly with him.
He said: “Police, SSS, Civil Defence and other security agents have been involved in the distribution exercise and they were directed to arrest and prosecute anybody found diverting government fertiliser in the state. They will confiscate the vehicle and the commodity before proceeding to court to prosecute the culprit. Brand new vehicles and motorcycles were purchased by the government for monitoring and inspection of activities of farmers in the state.”
This particular method for the distribution of fertilizers adopted by the Shema-led administration is yielding positive results with cotton farmers in the state cultivating over 180, 000 hectors last year, according to the  commissioner. He said more hecters would be cultivated this year, as over 196, 000 cotton farmers have been registered in the FG’s cotton production programme this year.
Daily Trust gathered that 23 of the 34 local governments of Katsina State are cotton growers and currently the state has nine ginneries that are buying most of the cotton produced by farmers in the state.
It was further learnt that cotton farmers in the state are also benefiting from the collaborated efforts of the FG and the West African Cotton Company (WACOT). The duo have signed MoU for the training of cotton farmers on basic techniques of cotton production and supply of improved seedlings and other farming implements to farmers.
The commissioner added that Katsina State government on its part has pledged to establish a marketing board in the state for counseling farmers on how to go about their businesses, noting that “a committee under the former President of Court of  Appeal, Justice Mamman Nasir has already submitted its report to government concerning the establishment of the board.”
He said that cotton farming is contributing immensely to the economy of Katsina State. “Recently the Malumfashi local government branch of the Keystone Bank disclosed that it has transacted over N2bn worth of business from cotton. This is to tell you that cotton business is boosting the economy of the state.”
The state governor while receiving a report submitted to him by the marketing board committee headed by Justice Mamman Nasir,  said agriculture is the only economic sector that has the capacity of generating wealth and jobs for the larger number of people in the society.
Governor Shema said Katsina has fertile soil, which can accommodate all categories of crops. He said the essence of establishing the board is for the farmers to have direct access to market and to encourage them produce certain economic crops.
The governor also pledged that government will again invite the committee members to provide it with appropriate legal and institutional framework for the successful take-off of the board. He said: “with provision of suitable environment and necessary assistance by the government, agriculture can reduce poverty in the north.”
Some farmers interviewed by Daily Trust expressed satisfaction with the way and manner fertiliser was being distributed to them by the government. Idris Ahmadu Jibia told our reporter that: “We have been receiving adequate fertiliser from the government.”
Jibia explained that last year he received five bags of fertiliser and had covered his farmland. He said however that some farmers are complaining of inadequate supply in Jibia.
Another farmer, Salisu Isa Funtua, said they have been trained by WACOT on how to improve their cotton production and they were given improved cotton seedlings. The training they had undergone, he added has helped them a lot in cotton production.