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Umar Dan’ Akano, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Agriculture
By our reporter, Lafia
Nasarawa State Government says it has cleared of 10,000 hectares of farm land at Jangwa and Agwatashi areas of Lafia and Obi local government of the state for wet season farming to boost food security.
It also says plan is on top gear to distribute farming inputs; fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, seeds and seedlings to wet season farmers at subsidised rate to ensure food sufficiency.
Mr Umar Dan’ Akano, Commissioner for Agriculture disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Lafia.
According to the Agriculture Commissioner, state government had earlier distributed 13 trucks of fertilizers along side herbicides insecticides, seeds, seedlings, knack sack sprayers among others at subsidised rate for dry season farmers.
“Nasarawa state under the leadership of Gov Abdullahi Sule, is committed to ensuring food security, so preparation for wet season farming is on top gear as clearing of 10,000 hectares of farm land in Jangwa and Agwatashi has begun.
“Plans are underway to commence the distribution of fertilizers and others farm inputs to farmers to boost foods production in the state,” he said.
On the method of distribution, Dan’Akano explained that Gov Sule had constituted distribution committee which comprised of local government chairmen, traditional rulers, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) security agents to ensure transparency.
Mr Emmanuel Alanana, Programme Manager, Nasarawa State Agricultural Development Programme (NADP) said it outlined series of trainings for extension agents as part of preparation for rainy season farming.
He also said NADP had made available chemical, improved seeds and seedlings, herbicides, insecticides at affordable rate for farmers.
“NADP is saddle with the responsibility of improving the livelihood of small holder farmers,
we started making our own arrangements in terms of seeds provision, herbicide and even in terms of human power advisory services.
“You know the state is divided into three zones with headquarters in Keffi, Akwanga and Obi, for those who are living close to state capital, Lafia, can come directly to the NADP office in Lafia to get farming inputs.
“It may also interest you to know that note base on the situation in the country now, Gov Sule is looking at other areas where intervention come up to support small holder farmers to boost food production.
He said that the state government had mapped out plans to go into mass production of three crops namely: Rice, Sesame and maize production to boost the markets, availability of food and revenue generation for the state.
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