Niger State government has said it will soon phase out the use of chemical fertilisers that are harmful to human consumption which also have bad effects to the soil and rather resort to the use of organic liquid fertiliser.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Musa Bawa Bosso, stated this in an interview with newsmen in his office in Minna, adding that as part of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago-led administration’s New Niger Agenda, the administration is working out modalities to discourage farmers in the state on the use of inorganic fertilisers like Urea, Npk which is dangerous to human health.
Bawa noted that the Ministry has been holding meetings with commodity associations to sensitise them on the importance of liquid organic fertilizer,in order to gradually phase out the inorganic fertilizers in the state.
According to the Commissioner, ”it was as a result of this that Nigeria crops were rejected over the years abroad as they cannot pass through the criteria of quality assurance which also affects their market value.
The commissioner said youths will be gainfully employed in the 250,000 hectares of land to be cultivated, 10,000 each in the 25 local government areas, stressing that 1,000 tractors will soon arrive the state as part of MOU with Czech’s republic.
“The government will deploy the technology in terms of land preparation which has been the challenges confronting farmers in the state, through the provision of modern tractors and accessories tailored for African markets”.
He pointed out that Out of the 25,000 hectares of land, 15 youths will be employed in each of the hectares with one solar Megawatt power for each hectares, hilighting that youths will be engaged in, on and off skills like, planting, herbicide, wedging, bagging and transportation.respectively.
“To ensure the realisation of the policies and programmes of the government the three years outstanding counterpart funds have been paid to agencies involved in value chain initiatives Fadama and ifad, the Commissioner maintained.
Source: Tribun Online
