Yobe Government on Friday launched the sale of 12,000 bags of assorted grains to people at subsidised rate of N2,000 against the N8,000 price in the open market.
Launching the programme in Damaturu, Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam, said the government procured the grains under the strategic grains programme to check the seasonal food scarcity and low supplies.
He said that government procured each bag at N6,000 after the last harvest when it was sold at N3,500 in the open market.
“The intention of government was to raise the value of the grains above the production cost and encourage farmers to sustain production, stabilize food prices and avoid unnecessary exploitation by middlemen.”
Gaidam said the state strategic grains reserve programme was necessitated by the seasonal food scarcity which resulted in sharp rise in food prices and low supplies in the wake of high demand.
?”The distribution to local government has also taken the degree of food scarcity into consideration with the most severely affected local governments of Yusufari, Yunusari, Machina, Nguru, Karasuwa and Geidam being allocated? 900 bags each.
“The other local government areas considered less hit are given from 300 to 350 bags each while, civil servants of lower cadre, have been allocated 1, 800 bags.”
Gaidam directed Local Government Chairmen in the state to ensure even and fair distribution of the grains to the people and remit the proceeds into government coffers.
?He assured that government would address problems associated with pest outbreaks, diseases and failure of agricultural policies.
“Government will accord the agricultural sector the priority attention it deserves through timely distribution of fertilizer, tractors, wash boreholes, water pumps, pesticides and improved seedlings among others, to support farmers.”