Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) has flagged off the distribution of subsidised fertiliser to 5, 795 farmers in Kwara State.
The flag-off of the distribution of the 2023 subsidised fertiliser to farmers took place at the premises of the state Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Ilorin, the state capital.
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At the event, the managing director of HYPPADEC, Abubakar Yelwa said, ”Ordinary farmers across local communities in the country have always found it very difficult to get access to efficient and affordable fertiliser, which is one of the reasons why the agricultural sector has degenerated over the years.
“For this reason, the commission decided to intervene by making quality fertiliser available to farmers at a cheaper rate. This intervention is not just essential but timely because the rate at which population is rapidly increasing in our local communities demands that farmers are given unhindered access to fertiliser in order to keep the production of food crops at pace with the ongoing population explosion.
“Fertiliser helps increase fertility of soil and makes plants resilient against harmful plant pathogens, pests and weeds. It also accelerates plant growth. Its significance to agricultural growth can, therefore, not be overemphasized.
“When we started the fertiliser distribution programme last year, we distributed over 50,000 bags of fertilisers to thousands of beneficiaries across our member states. In each of the over 1,800 communities of the Commission, not less than 30 bags were distributed to ordinary farmers with an astounding 60% discount. This year, the Commission is set out to distribute 42,328 bags of fertilizer (21,118 bags each for NPK and UREA), to not less than 20 beneficiaries in each community of the Commission at the same 60% discount (N10,000 per each bag). For Kwara State, 5,795 bags of the subsidized fertiliser would be sold to farmers in the affected areas of the commission.” Yelwa was represented at the event by the director of community at the agency, Dr Mahmud Umar.
In his remarks, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said his administration would redouble efforts at ensuring the dredging of River Niger as a lasting solution to flooding in the riverine areas in the state. Represented by the speaker of the State House of Assembly, Engr. Yakubu Salihu-Danladi, the governor thanked HYPPADEC for its interest in adequate food production in its catchment area.