Daily Trust - the online edition

The FCT Executive Committee has directed the immediate sale of fertiliser to all farmers in the Territory to ensure a bumper harvest next year.

The FCT Minister, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar, who made this order Monday in Abuja, said this is part of FCT EXCO resolutions to encourage farmers.

The minister stated that the FCTA has decided to commence the early sale of the commodity since the rainy season has begun in earnest.

Dr. Umar remarked that the federal government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources has allocated 8,100 metric tonnes of assorted fertilizer to the Federal Capital Territory and that out of these, 4,000 metric tonnes is already in the custody of the FCTA, ready for sale to the general public.

He restated that transparent modalities have already been fashioned out to enable the commodity get to all the nook and crannies of the territory to prevent any possible abuse in the distribution.

He disclosed that UREA, NPK and SSP will be sold to the farmers at the cost of N1,638 N1,8768:00 and N1,650:00 respectively; emphasising that plans for the official flagging-off of the current farming season is already underway.

Dr. Umar expressed the intention of the FCT Administration to procure additional 10,450 metric tones of assorted fertilizer to the FCT farmers apart from the 8,100 tones allocated by the federal government.  

The minister articulated the commitment of the FCT Administration to fight poverty and hunger; stating that it is one of the seven point agenda of President Yar’Adua and therefore, would not be toyed with.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of the FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Alhaji Mustapha Bala Batsari, at the weekend, carried out inspection visit to the FCT fertilizer stores at Gwagwalada and Tugan Maje near Zuba to monitor the delivery of the assorted fertilizer for the current planting season.

During the inspection, the secretary expressed satisfaction with the early arrival of fertilizers and commended President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as well as the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources for their foresight by ensuring the timely release of the commodity.