₦airaland Forum

Cross sections of Nigerian farmers have frowned at the immediate suspension of Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s agricultural policies with respect to the distribution of fertilizers, by President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the ban will do Nigerians no good.

Mrs Umar, a farmer in Kaduna State who spoke to Post Nigeria on behalf of other farmers lamented that farmers have returned to being beggars since the inception of Buhari’s administration, following the unwarranted suspension of subsidized fertilizer distribution.

She noted that farmers have gone cultivating without fertilizer as the product remains unavailable to them.

This is coming on the heels of Buhari’s last week visit to his farm home in Daura, Katsina State, where he expressed delight at the abundant rainfall in most parts of Nigeria, saying this may be a sign of bumper harvest for farmers across the country.

During his visit, Buhari had said that he felt reassured about this when he saw good crop performance lining the roads all the way to his farm.

In stark contrast to the President’s statement, Mrs. Umar insisted that the so called abundant rain fall might not be meaningful if fertilizers were not used to improve the yield.

“Since Jonathan left office, the distribution of subsidized fertilizer has stopped. We have to start sourcing for fertilizer, and honestly there isn’t any available in the market.
“If you see the product, it will be very expensive. 1 bag of NPK costs about N5, 800. You can imagine how many bags a poor farmer needs to buy to improve his crop yeild,” Umar stressed.

The Jonathan administration had always made efforts to boost agricultural outputs in the country, but these efforts were not directly channeled to beneficiaries, until the introduction of the e-wallet system.

See: Rice Farmers to benefit N26bn in 2015 – President Jonathan

The E-wallet scheme which was introduced by the former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, allowed every farmer registered under a cooperative union to benefit from the fertilizer distribution scheme.

The scheme allowed beneficiaries to pay only 50 per cent on agro-products, while the State and Federal Governments paid the balance.

Report reveal that the e-wallet fertilizer distribution process had improved agricultural output, as fertilizers were no longer diverted or sold at high rates to poor farmers.

The President of Etche Farmers Cooperative Union, Mr. Godwin Akandu, had on June 24, 2015 pleaded with Buhari to continue with the e-wallet system of fertilizer distribution, to enhance food security in the country.

An agricultural expert speaking to Post Nigeria in Benue State, Isaiah Gabriel, stated that the consequence of terminating the free distribution of fertilizer was dire.

He decried that on the spot assessment revealed that the price of food stuff will increase geometrically in 2016.

“The farmers in Benue State are passing through hard times because of the non-availability of fertilizers. The worst part of it is that the product is not even available in the market.
“The immediate past administration did tremendously well; I had expected Buhari to maintain this policy from Jonathan at least for the benefit of the country.”

He added: “I interact with farmers daily because of the nature of my profession. I have discovered that farmers are pained that the e-wallet system had been discarded and disbanded. Believe me; the rate of hunger will increase soon because farmers are not finding it funny.

“The issue is that the present government may not have a blueprint for the sector because of the absence of an economic team and a Minister of Agriculture.

“If Buhari is not proactive enough to give out fertilizers latest by January/ February, 2016, then Nigeria should expert serious food scarcity up to 2017 because fertilizers are used during planting seasons, anytime later than that will spell trouble”.Gabriel said.

Recall that marking the unprecedented achievements of Jonathan as regards agricultural development in Nigeria, the former President was named the Farmer’s President at the Agricultural Festival which held on January 23, 2015 at Eagles Square, Abuja.

“Our farmers were previously beggars, begging for fertilizers, and were receiving none. We gave them 3 bags of fertilizer each. This has restored dignity and hope back to our farmers” Jonathan had said.

http://www.post-nigeria.com/devastation-hunger-loom-as-buhari-suspends-fertilizer-distribution-programme/

NA LIKE THIS APC WAN TAKE DIVERSIFY OUR ECONOMY? OK KOTINU

APC as a Political Party has come to destroy Nigeria. And Buhari's government will help bury it (Nigeria)


Does anyone still believe that certificate is not important?


This Dau..ra Daullard never had any western education, he did not do agricultural science, so he doesn't understand the importance of fertilizers to farmers. He only attended Islamic military school, so am not surprised!

Ok

Winter is coming....

not again

visit my signature

Wow i thought GEJ is clueless thats why they voted him out?

Please enjoy your change

Dont complain

INTROVERT:
Winter is coming....

Introvert you don come bak abi them sack you

Am waiting 4 apc e-rats to come and defend the president of d north.

Buari will end up as d worst president nigeria ever had. APC zombies see una life? enjoy ya change.

Buhari's body odour will be enough to ensure all farmers have bumper harvest☺