The Plateau government has procured 500 truckloads of fertiliser to be sold to farmers in the state at a subsidised rate.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang disclosed this at the official commencement of the sale of the essential input to farmers on Friday in Jos, the state capital.

The governor directed that fertiliser be sold to farmers at a subsidised rate of N20,000 per bag.

He insisted that the gesture aimed to support farmers and ensure food security in the state.

Mr Mutfwang said the fertilisers were procured with public funds, adding that the government would continue to initiate programmes that meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

“This is why I approved the reduction in the price of the fertiliser to N20,000, because we want to make sure that everybody has access to this essential product.

“This is also a way of compensating our farmers for the loss they suffered last year, because last year the prices of foodstuffs went down drastically.

“Therefore, I have the honour and the pleasure to officially inaugurate the sale of fertiliser for this season for the benefit of the people who live and farm on the Plateau,” he said.

The governor also promised that the government would buy off-farm products from farmers, adding that this would enable farmers to get value for money.

“By the grace of God, we have made arrangements that this year we will buy whatever our farmers harvest from their farms, so that they will not be molested in the market by middlemen,” he said.

Earlier, Samson Bugama, the commissioner for agriculture, assured the governor that the fertiliser would get to registered farmers.

Mr Bugama, who said the collection process had been digitised, explained that 18 collection points had been designated across the state for farmers to access the product.

(NAN)