October 03, (THEWILL) – National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), on Thursday, handed over 16,169 litres of liquid gel fertiliser to the Benue State Government for onward distribution to farmers.
The Director General of the Agency, Mr Zubaida Umar, while performing the ceremony in Makurdi on Thursday, explained that the fertiliser was under the National Food Security Council – Emergency Agricultural Intervention (NFSC – EAl) for states affected by 2018 conflicts.
Represented by Mr Bashir Garga, Zonal Director, NEMA, North Central, Umar said the fertiliser was a balance of the 2018 fertiliser meant for States affected by conflicts, saying NEMA commenced distribution of NPK fertiliser to affected farmers in 2020.
“The distribution of the commodity could not continue due to the changes in the regulations by the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) which led to the termination of the contract between NEMA and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) for the supply of NPK fertiliser to beneficiary States”.
She said the Liquid Gel Fertiliser is being supplied as a replacement for the balance of NPK fertiliser approved for Benue State under the NFSC – EAI for states affected by 2018 conflicts.
“The liquid fertiliser supplied was from certified and licenced suppliers of Liquid Gel Fertilisers. It was the intention of President Bola Tinubu that the fertilizer would reach the beneficiaries before the expiration of the cropping season”.
The Director General, who said that the supply of 16,169 litres of liquid gel fertiliser for Benue State has been completed, urged for onward distribution to benefit farmers for their use in the current cropping season.
Governor Hyacinth Alia commended President Tinubu and NEMA for always remembering the people of Benue, especially in their difficult moments.
Represented by his Principal Private Secretary (PPS), Dr Emmanuel Chenge, the governor assured that the fertiliser would reach all the target farmers in the state.
He said the State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources would enlighten the people on its application for maximum output and urged Benue people to produce what they eat, especially the workers since their salaries alone may not sustain them adequately.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Sir James Iorpuu, said most IDPs have returned to their farms in the State and the fertilizer would greatly help farmers to improve their agricultural produce.
On his part, Commissioner for Agricultural and Natural Resources, Prof Moses Ogbaji said the fertiliser would be tested in the laboratory to know its content.
