The Executive Governor of Taraba State, Arch. Darius Dickson Ishaku, has officially flagged off the distribution and sale of fertiliser and other agro inputs for the 2021 farming season.
The ceremony that took place on Monday at the Jolly Nyame Stadium in Jalingo had in attendance, the Governor, Deputy Governor, Engr Haruna Manu, royal fathers, other government functionaries and dignitaries.
Speaking during the flag-off, Ishaku stated that the gesture was made in a bid to provide an enabling environment for farmers, considering that farmers make up to 65 percent of the state’s population.
He said: “This administration deems it necessary to focus on agriculture as the mainstream of the economy and major source of income. This is not just to boost agricultural activities in the state but also to create wealth and improve the livelihood of Tarabans.”
Ishaku also noted that his administration has achieved significantly in agriculture and has aided farmers with the necessary farm inputs during the farming seasons.
However, the Governor emphasised that part of the farm inputs will be given to those communities affected by the farmers/herders clash and flooding, in order to facilitate the restoration of peace and livelihood in those areas.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Dr. David Ishaya, said that the demonstration of concern by the state government to the plight of farmers is highly commendable and well appreciated.
He noted that since 2015, the administration has embraced the agricultural policy by procuring farm inputs and selling them at a subsidised rate to farmers and this has immensely helped farmers over the years.
He thanked His Excellency for his magnanimity and pledged the continuous support and cooperation of farmers across the state as well as a bumper harvest in this farming season.
It was gathered that among the agro inputs distributed were 2000 metric tons of maize seeds, 100 tons of sesame seeds, 12,000 bundles of cassava stems, among others.
