agriculture
Fertiliser: Nasarawa Assembly cautions Agric ministry against sharp practices
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture has cautioned the state Ministry of Agriculture against sharp practices in the sales and distribution of fertiliser to farmers.
This, the committee said, is to boost food production in the state and enhance transparency in the system for the benefit of farmers.
Dr Peter Akwe, the Chairman of the committee, gave the advice when managements of the state Ministry of Agriculture and Nasarawa Agricultural Development Programme (NADP) appeared before the committee on their 2022 budget performances.
He explained that the agricultural sector is very important and critical to the growth of the state, hence the need for more proactive steps by government to address emerging changes facing the sector.
“The state government have to declare a state of emergency in the agricultural sector, if really we want to get it right.
“As the importance of agriculture to human and societal development could not be overemphasised. Agriculture provides food, generate employment and revenue among other benefits.
“Hence the need for all hands to be on deck in order to address the challenges facing the sector in the state,” he said.
Akwe also called on the state government to employ more extension workers in order to boost food production in the state.
“It is really disturbing to hear that one extension worker is attached to 12,000 to 15,000 farmers in the state,” he added
The chairman urged the ministry to ensure prudence in the distribution of fertiliser to farmers across the state in order to boost food production.
Akwe also called on the state government to declare a state of emergency in the agricultural sector in order to address the challenges facing the sector in the state.
He explained that if the state government declared state of emergency in the agricultural sector, it would not only boost food production but would also improve on the standard of living of the people of the state.
Earlier, Mr Nuhu Oshafu, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, appreciated the committee for supporting its activities to succeed’
He told the committee that the state has purchased and distributed 21 trucks of fertiliser worth about N238 million in the state.
Also appeared is Mr Emmanuel Allahnana, the Programme Manager, Nasarawa Agricultural Development Programme (NADP), who thanked the committee for the support the agency is enjoying from them and called for its sustenance.
He assured of their readiness to be up and doing in initiating different policies and programmes that would boost food production in the state.
Allahnana, however, appealed for the employment of more extension workers in order to address agricultural challenges and boost food production in the state.
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