The Borno Government is to set up a committee for effective fertiliser distribution, the Commissioner?for Agriculture, Alhaji Usman Zannah, has said.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)? on Sunday in Maiduguri, that the committee would?comprise local government officials, security personnel, district heads, traditional rulers and representatives of??farmers across the state.
“I doubt very much if there will be misuse of fertilisers because definitely, government will have a firm control and supervision over the distribution of fertilisers this year,'' he said.
?
The commissioner said?the state had in stock, more than 39 tonnes of fertiliser which would be distributed judiciously to farmers in all parts of the state.
“The fertiliser?is further subsidised by 50 per cent and? distributed to farmers while?each of the 27 Local Government Areas? got between 10 and 15 trucks of fertiliser for dry and rainy season farming.''
He said that?government had?paid more than N400 million as the backlog of counterpart funds for all?the ongoing programmes on agriculture being assisted by donor agencies.
“The state government paid about N400 million backlog of counterparts?funds for IFAD and FADAMA III?food security programmes, and also?purchased 200 tractors? ahead of the rainy season.
?
He said Gov Kassim Shettima??recently?led a delegation to Egypt and Thailand? to replicate their best practises in agricultural development, adding that some youths would be sent abroad for training.
“We are very impressed with the countries'?modern-day farming most especially in Egypt where we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government.
Zannah said that the government was working on plans to?draw water from Lake Alo in the state to Jere in Jere LGA
to assist dry season farmers?for an all-year-round?cultivation. (NAN)