The governor of Niger state, Abubakar Sani Bello, has urged the federal and state governments to create a special fund to aid farmers with the purchase of land preparation and fertilizers. He made this call during the inauguration of Falcol Fertilizer, held in partnership with the state government at the Niger State Fertilizer Company, located in Zungeru. The company has become operational after years of lack of equipment and Bello expressed his gratitude to the management for collaborating with the state government.
Bello emphasized that farming is expensive and in order to improve agricultural production and reduce the price of food in Nigeria, farmers need financial assistance. He said, “We need a special fund to support farmers and help improve the production of agricultural products in Nigeria, thereby reducing the price of food stuffs”.
The governor also suggested that the fertilizer company sell at least 10% of their fertilizer to local farmers at the cost price as part of their corporate social responsibility. He encouraged the company to have a sales shop outside the facility for small-scale farmers.
Mr. Shola Thomas, the Marketing Manager of the Company, stated that the new plant is currently producing 100 tons of fertilizer a day. He added that the company is willing to put more fertilizers in the market to satisfy farmers and make Niger State a hub of agricultural investment.
In conclusion, the governor expressed concern over politicians who abuse government efforts to provide affordable fertilizer, emphasizing that it’s a means of making money for them.
