By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
Bauchi State Government owned Fertilizer Blending Company is to be given a N1billion loan in order to boost production and make assorted fertilizer readily available to all categories of farmers as the 2021 farming season sets in.
State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir gave The approval of the loan on Tuesday when he visited the plant on an on the spot inspection saying that one of the priorities of his administration is to boost agricultural sector and food production in this year’s farming season and beyond.
The Governor was on an inspection visit to the company in continuation of his projects inspection tour across the state which took him to Kirfi and Bauchi LGAs during which he inspected ongoing projects.
According to the Governor, the government has settled the backlog of debts amounting to N700 million indebted by the company, adding that the company supplies fertilizer to all farmers in the state and the North-East subregion.
Bala Mohammed said that, “With the financial support given to it by the government, the company could extend the supply to other parts of the North, considering the fact that 99 per cent of the population of Bauchi state are farmers and only one per cent are civil servants”
He added that, “Almost all the federal allocations we collect monthly amounting to N6 billion N7 billion are expended on salaries. We therefore feel that we must boost agriculture and support our farmers who produce food for us”
He then asked the management of the company to reciprocate the gesture by making good use of the funds and improving the supply of the product to farmers.
In his remarks, the chairman of the company, Alhaji Bappa Aliyu Misau expressed appreciation to the governor for the gesture saying the money would boost the company’s production and profits.
He also called on farmers to take advantage on the various federal government interventions on agriculture and boost their farm produce and improve socio-economic development in the state.
