Daily Trust - the online edition

Abaji Area Council plans to supply 7, 200 bags of fertilizer for distribution to farmers of the council at a subsidized rate this farming season.

The head of department of agriculture in the council, Dr. Alhassan Ma’aji Ibrahim told newsmen in his office yesterday that the council had made agriculture top in its priorities to ensure adequate food supply in the area. He said the measure was to encourage farmers in area to embark upon large scale farming.

He observed that the council experienced shortage of fertilizer last year which prompted complains from farmers. He said the shortage resulted in poor harvest of crops in the area.

He disclosed that there had been pressures from farmers requesting early supply of fertilizer to them to enhance their farming activities. He added that the council’s agriculture department had already liaised with the FCT Agriculture Secretariat to supply the council with fertilizer in no distance time.

The council is making arrangements to set up a committee that would be made up of ward councilors, village heads, farmers’ groups as well as representatives of security agencies to ensure that the fertilizer are judiciously distributed to deserving farmers, he said.

Dr. Alhassan also said arrangements had been made by the council to refurbish some of its tractors grounded for three years so that the farmers could hire them.

He added that the council had concluded plans to give soft loans to youths aimed at encouraging them to learn fish farming and poultry.