President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni- led government for massively investing in agriculture to guarantee food sufficiency and security in the state.
The President stated this on Wednesday at the launching of the state’s Agricultural Empowerment Programme in Damaturu, the state capital.
Tinubu who was represented at the event by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political and Other Matters, Alhaji Ibrahim Kabiru Masari, said the Yobe State agricultural empowerment programme was in tune with the renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal government.
He also assured the Federal Government’s partnership to improve agricultural productivity in the state.
Speaking on the uniqueness of the event, Governor Buni said the state government procured 40 Massey Ferguson tractors, 1,961 Power Tillers, 1,250 Hand Push Planters, 553 Multi-Purpose Threshers, 3,410 Solar water pumps, 830 Fertilizer Applicator, 4,500 bags of NPK 20:10:10 Fertilizer and 195 Crop Residue crushers.
The Yobe Governor added that 495 Crop Residue choppers, 20,000 Assorted improved seeds, Assorted Agro Chemicals, 4,000 Bunch of Cassava Stems, Assorted Certified Seeds, 50 Tricycles and 30 Motorcycles were also procured for the programme.
He said, “In line with our policy to promote agricultural development in the state, I hereby direct that, the machines, equipment and other farm implements should be distributed free to deserving farmers.
“Additionally, I hereby direct a 50% subsidy on the sale of fertilizer to farmers”.
It is instructive to note that Yobe State government last year procured and distributed 100 tractors, hand tilling machines, solar-powered irrigation machines, havestors, threshers, assorted improved seedlings, and fertilizer among others.
