Farmers in Borno State have expressed concern over the state government’s inability to flag off sale and distribution of fertiliser at subsidised rate as done yearly in most states of the federation.
The farmers, mostly from the southern part of the state, insisted that, as tradition demands, the timely sale and distribution of fertiliser by the government is long overdue.
The farmers argued that, since governor Zulum came on board in 2019, their hope of getting fertiliser timely and at subsidised rate has been dashed, as government no longer give priority to the agricultural sector, especially those at the grassroots.
One of the farmers who simply gave his name as Yusuf Inuwa, lamented that in January this year when Borno State government under the leadership of governor Babagana Umara Zulum flagged off the distribution of agricultural inputs, such as irrigation machines to 500 dry season farmers in Monguno local government area of Northern Borno senatorial district, there was nothing of such that took place in Southern Borno which has large number of farmers, peaceful atmosphere and favourable climatic condition.
A retired civil servant, now a farmer, who did not want his name mentioned, told our correspondent that the agricultural sector under Zulum is only existing on the pages of newspapers, but in the real sense, the sector has been neglected.
Mohammed Kolo, a farmer from Damboa local government area in his reaction, said, “It is unfortunate, even hiring of tractors remained inaccessible to farmers in Southern Borno, due to the refusal of the government to deploy tractors to the area during the cultivation period.”
“This is even as Borno State Government under the leadership of the former governor, Senator Kashim Shettima claimed procurement of thousands of tractors, but were nowhere to be found,” he lamented.