The Borno Government said on Sunday that it had approved a 70 per cent subsidy on fertilisers being?sold to farmers for this years cropping season.
Gov. Kashim Shettima made the pronouncement at the?launch of?the sale of the commodity?to farmers in Damboa, headquarters of Damboa Local Government.
Shettima explained that a bag of NPK and Urea fertilisers would be sold at N2,000?and N1,950 respectively.
He explained that the objective was to make fertilisers affordable to farmers, especially those at the grassroots level.
“Government is providing 70 percent on each bag of fertiliser to farmers for this years farming season.
“The object is to make the commodity affordable to all farmers and boost food production in the state,'' Shettima
said.
He warned middlemen that government would?not condone?diversion of?the commodity to the black market.
“Let me warn that government will take drastic action against individuals found diverting the commodity to the black market,'' Shettima said,?and advised?officials in charge of the distribution to be fair and just.
“We must ensure fair and equitable distribution of the fertilisers among the people because we have signed a covenant to serve the people.''
He urged the people of the state to pray for peace to reign.
“I will to call on everybody to pray for peace to return to Borno because without peace we cannot make progress.
“I also wish to call on our brothers in the Boko Haram to please lay down their arms and embrace peace.''
He also appealed to the people to pray for bumper harvest for the state to?record mass food production.(NAN)