Tambuwal Secures N4 Billion Naira Loan for Sokoto Farmers

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The Sokoto State government has started distributing N4 billion loans to rice, tomato and wheat farmers in the state.

State Governor Aminu Tambuwal said this during the launch of the 2022 rainy season fertilizer sales and distribution of other inputs to farmers in the state, held at Kasarawa, a suburb of the state capital.

According to him, the state government has fulfilled all the requirements to secure the loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria to support the farmers.

Therefore, the government has since started the disbursement of the loan facility, as an intervention to boost the cultivation of rice, wheat and tomatoes in the state to farmers through Zenith Bank.

Tambuwal added that under the initiative, water pumps, rice and wheat threshers and milling machines, and fertilizers sold at 13,000 naira are being distributed to more than 16,000 farmers to increase the yield and activate the commercial aspect of production.

The Governor, who noted that agriculture is the mainstay of 80% of our population, said farmers who derive their income and livelihood also depend on fertile land and the availability of various crops.

According to him, this informs his administration's decision to give a bonus to agriculture by providing support to farmers, recalling that during the planting season last year, the government subsidized the price of fertilizer while providing free improved seedlings and other inputs.< /p>

He said his administration has also, in partnership with a private flour mill, begun an audit of wheat farmers to provide them with farming tools to boost their business in the state.

"This season, our administration purchased 10,000 metric tons of fertilizer at a very high cost, caused by the current inflationary trends, which we will however sell to farmers in the state at a heavy subsidy. This will be supplemented by providing free improved seeds to growers of various crops.

“Our administration has pursued the industrialization of the state agricultural sector by attracting private sector investment. This is already yielding results as evidenced by the establishment of the Dangote Rice Mill Plant in Kware and the OCP Maroc Fertilizer Plant in Kalambaina,” he added.

Tambuwal reiterated his administration's commitment to partner with interested investors to develop businesses in our state in accordance with the laws of the land.

The governor called on farmers to exploit these palliatives and to support and till the soil harder for the production of food and cash crops sufficient for the socio-economic progress of our state.

This despite the prevailing state of insecurity, which particularly ravages rural areas, where 90% of farmers live.

"Our government is providing all necessary support to security agencies to contain banditry and other crimes. I call on all of us to continue to pray earnestly for divine intervention against the threat. Tambuwal added.

In his address, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Prof. Aminu Abubakar, thanked the Governor for providing adequate support and cooperation to the ministry to promote agricultural activities in the country. State.

In his address, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar, represented by the Chief of Kilgori District, Sa in Kilgori, Alhaji Muhammad Jabbi urged those who were responsible for distributing government-provided palliatives to be fair and just.

The Sultan, while thanking the Sokoto State government for its intervention in the agricultural sector of the state, also urged farmers to use the produce wisely.