President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended Yobe State government for massively investing in agriculture to ensure food sufficiency and security in the state.
Tinubu spoke yesterday at the launch of the state’s Agricultural Empowerment Programme in Damaturu, the state capital.
Represented by his senior special assistant on Political and Other Matters, Alhaji Ibrahim Kabiru Masari, the president said the programme was in tune with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He assured the governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni of the federal government’s partnership to improve agricultural productivity in the state.
Buni had said the state government had procured 40 Massey Ferguson tractors, 1,961 power tillers, 1,250 hand push planters, 553 multi-purpose threshers, 3,410 solar water pumps, 830 fertiliser applicator, 4,500 bags of NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer and 195 crop residue crushers.
Similarly, 495 crop residue choppers, 20,000 assorted improved seeds, assorted agro chemicals, 4,000 bunch of cassava stems, assorted certified seeds, 50 tricycles and 30 motorcycles were procured for the programme.
According to him, “In line with our policy to promote agricultural development in the state, I hereby direct that, the machines, equipment and other farm implements should be distributed free to deserving farmers. Additionally, I hereby direct a 50% subsidy on the sale of fertilizer to farmers.”
LEADERSHIP recalled that the Yobe State government last year procured and distributed 100 tractors, hand tilling machines, solar-powered irrigation machines, threshers, assorted improved seedlings, and fertiliser, among others.
