Farmers in Kano State are lamenting the high cost of fertiliser in the open market despite Presidential Fertiliser Initiative committee’s warning against sale of federal and the state government’s branded fertiliser above N5,000.
Chronicle gathered that the government’s branded fertiliser is now sold at N12,000 against the stipulated price of N5,000. This development, the farmers said, had taken fertiliser beyond their reach.
Malam Dahiru Alasan Zakirai, a medium scale farmer in Kano revealed that farmers like him were currently facing difficulties accessing affordable fertiliser, lamenting that the authorities in the state had left the farmers to face their plight with no alternative.
He added that many farmers had resorted to primitive means as well as the use of manure on their farms as they could not afford conventional fertiliser, stressing that might negatively affect this year’s harvest.
“It is unfortunate that with all the government intervention in the fertiliser sector, farmers are currently facing difficulties accessing affordable fertiliser in Kano.
“It is clear that with all the efforts, fertiliser merchants in Kano have pushed the price above the reach of an average farmer. A bag of Urea is now sold at N10,800, NPK N14,500 and the government branded fertilizer is sold at N12, 000,” he said.
Another farmer, Malam Usman Ubale, added that though the government fertilizer had a price tag, farmers had no option but to buy at the inflated price at the open market.
He added that, unlike previous years, the state government did not hold an official ceremony to flag-off the sale of fertiliser to farmers in the state.
“We are confused on the reason behind this hike in fertiliser price because it is obvious that to avoid diversion and selling above the official price, the government has devised a means in which the bags of fertilizer bear the price boldly printed on them. However, farmers could not access the commodity at that price,” he lamented.
It could be recalled that the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative recently warned marketers and dealers of fertiliser in the country against sale of federal government and state-branded fertiliser above the stipulated price of N5, 000.
The warning was given by the Chairman of Presidential Fertiliser Initiative, who is also the Governor of Jigawa State, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar when he paid an inspection tour to Kano Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO) in Kano.
He warned that the initiative would take action on any marketer found selling fertilizer, with KASCO or federal government brand above the stipulated price. He also urged farmers to report such person to the initiative.
However, when contacted on the issue, the Special Adviser on Agriculture to Kano State government, Alhaji Hafiz Muhammad, revealed that the state government through KASCO had waded into the matter by supplying all its local government offices with NPK to ease farmers’ plight.
He added that the state government was also planning for other alternatives that would bring succour to farmers in respect to access to fertiliser in the state.
