2 weeks ago
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Farmers in Gombe State are demanding transparency regarding the whereabouts of 2,000 tonnes of fertiliser reportedly donated by the Federal Government to support food security.
The fertiliser was intended to assist farmers during the 2024 wet season, as announced by Governor Muhammadu Yahaya during the flag-off ceremony in June.
Frustrated farmers on Wednesday alleged that the fertiliser remains undistributed, with some claiming it was allocated to “political farmers” instead.
They urged the governor to ensure the fair distribution of the Federal Government’s free fertiliser to genuine farmers, especially as they prepare for dry season farming.
Esther Bitrus, a rice and maize farmer from the Dadin Kowa community, expressed her disappointment, noting that only the state-subsidised fertiliser, priced at N22,000 per bag, was accessible, and even that was selectively distributed.
“I had to buy my fertiliser at market rates because I couldn’t access either the federal or state-provided supplies,” she said.
“It’s disheartening that despite the Federal Government’s goodwill, we’re left to fend for ourselves in these challenging times,” Bitrus lamented.
Another farmer, Sarah Yakubu, echoed the concerns, warning that neglecting farmers in Gombe could escalate food scarcity and deepen rural poverty.
“If farmers in Kano and Nasarawa receive fertiliser for free, why should Gombe State be different?” she questioned.
For Nafada farmer Umar Hamisu, the lack of affordable fertiliser has worsened his farming experience in 2024, preventing him from adequately planting sorghum and wheat.
“We heard that President Tinubu supported us with fertiliser, but nothing reached our villages,” Hamisu complained.
Grain farmer Aliyu Kashere added, “Farmers in Gombe need real support like others nationwide. The government should ensure proper distribution for the dry season.”
In response to the allegations, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Cooperatives, Dr. Barnabas Malle, dismissed the claims of diversion, asserting that the fertilisers were allocated to “real farmers”
and not political affiliates.
“There were efforts by some to secure fertiliser for resale, but Governor Yahaya’s stringent oversight prevented this,” Malle said.
He added that both federal and state-provided fertilisers, totalling 4,000 tonnes, had been distributed to cooperatives and individual farmers at subsidised rates.
Chairman of the Fertiliser Distribution Committee, Barrister Abdullahi Jalo, also refuted accusations of mismanagement.
While acknowledging he had chaired the committee since 2023, Jalo clarified that he assumed his role after the 2024 federal fertiliser distribution had commenced.
“Governor Yahaya distributed federal fertiliser free multiple times before I joined the committee,” he stated.
When asked about the exact timing of the Federal Government’s fertiliser delivery, Jalo remarked, “That’s a question for the governor. Currently, we’re finalising distribution records for the state’s fertiliser, which was sold to farmers at N22,000 per bag.”
