Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi has implemented a significant 50 percent reduction in fertiliser prices to boost agricultural productivity across the state, offering much-needed relief to farmers amid nationwide concerns over high input costs.
The State Committee on Fertiliser, alongside the governor's Chief of Staff, Senator Mustapha Makama, announced this decision following the committee's meeting at the ALGON Secretariat in Dutse. According to the announcement, NPK fertiliser will now be sold at N28,800 per bag, representing a 50 percent discount from the market price.
Senator Makama emphasized that the initiative aims to improve farming activities while enhancing food production and security both in Jigawa State and across Nigeria. This intervention comes at a critical time when farmers nationwide have been lamenting the prohibitive cost of fertiliser, which threatens food production throughout the country.
To ensure the subsidized fertiliser benefits only Jigawa farmers, Governor Namadi issued a stern warning against transporting the commodities outside state boundaries. "We will ensure no such fertiliser goes outside the state. Therefore, checkpoints will be mounted on roads entering the state to prevent the fertiliser from being taken outside the state," he stated, adding that violators would face punishment.
Rabi'u Khalid, Managing Director of the Jigawa Agricultural Supply Company (JASCO), revealed that the state government has allocated over N2 billion for fertiliser procurement. He confirmed that distribution has already commenced across all 47 functional JASCO stores throughout the state and advised farmers to visit any store to make their purchases.
This initiative represents a significant investment in Jigawa's agricultural sector, which remains the primary livelihood for a majority of the state's population. By making essential farming inputs more accessible, the government aims to stimulate increased crop yields and improve food security amid rising concerns about inflation and food prices nationwide.
The fertiliser subsidy program aligns with Governor Namadi's broader agricultural development agenda, which has included various interventions to support farmers since his administration began.
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