Nasarawa farmers advocate early sales of fertiliser

The Nasarawa State Chapter of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has advocated early sales of fertiliser and other farming inputs to enable farmers to start crop growing in good time.

Ishaq Mauzu, the Chairman of AFAN in Nasarawa State, made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia on Thursday.

According to him, the government is supposed to commence the sale of fertiliser and other inputs to farmers between March and April so as to enable them to start farming on time.

“We have the capacity and technical knowledge to utilise the land at our disposal to produce assorted food crops for local consumption and exports.

“All we require from government is the provision of modern farming implements in good time,’’ he said.

Mauzu said that the provision of affordable farming implements would also enable unemployed youths to venture into agriculture, thereby creating jobs and enhancing food security.

He, nonetheless, underscored the need for the government to provide soft loans to farmers to as encourage farming activities.

He said that the government should also supply tractors at subsidised rates to farmers to encourage them to go into commercial farming.

“Even if the government would not sell the tractors to us, they should buy them and lease them out to our members,’’ he added.

Mauzu, however, commended the government for supporting farming activities.

He urged the government to beef up security in all parts of the state to enable farmers go to their farms without any fear of attacks by assailants.