FG supports Sokoto farmers with N5.64bn -Agric Director - Dr Jubril Enesi

The Federal Government supported farmers in Sokoto State with inputs worth N5.64 billion in the last two years, Dr Jubril Enesi, Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, announced on Thursday.

Enesi, who spoke at the commencement of the sales, distribution of water pumps and rice reapers by the Federal Government at highly subsidised prices, said 103,265 farmers benefitted from the gesture.

He said the gestures were extended to the farmers within the first two years of the implementation of the agricultural transformation agenda.

“This is no doubt a demonstration of the commitment by the Federal Government to produce rice above the nation’s requirement before the year 2015.

“It is aimed at generating additional employment opportunities for the teeming youths and to banish poverty from Nigeria,” Enesi added.

The director listed some of the inputs provided to the farmers within the period under review to include assorted fertiliser, crystalliser, agrolyser and high quality paddy rice seeds.

Enesi furher said that items in the first phase of distribution for 2014 included 80 pieces of 3HP irrigation pumps, two rice reapers and two rice threshers.

According to him, the pumps and reapers are given to the farmers at 75 per cent subsidy and the farmers will pay only 25 per cent.

“Each pump was bought at N80,000 and sold to the farmers at N20,000, while each reaper was bought at N556,000 and sold to the farmers at N258,000,”  he  said. http://www.punchng.com/news/fg-supports-sokoto-farmers-with-n5-64bn-director/