From Henry Ibya, Makurdi
National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, yesterday handed over 16,169 litres of liquid gel fertiliser to the Benue State government, as part of the National Food Security Council- Emergency Agricultural Intervention, NFSC-EAI, for states affected by conflicts in 2018.
Its Director-General, Zubaida Umar, represented by the Zonal Director, North-Central, Bashir Garga, explained that the donation is a balance of the 2018 fertiliser meant for states affected by conflicts.
He recalled that the agency had distributed NPK fertiliser to the affected farmers in 2020, but faced challenges due to changes in regulations by the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative, PFI, leading to the termination of the contract between NEMA and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA.
According to the NEMA boss, liquid gel fertiliser is a replacement for the balance of NPK fertilizer approved for Benue State under NFSC-EAI, assuring that it was sourced from certified and licensed suppliers, and would serve farmers maximally.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, represented by his Principal Private Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Chenge, commended President Bola Tinubu and NEMA for always remembering the people of Benue, especially in their difficult moments, assuring that the fertiliser would reach the targeted people.
He said the state Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources would enlighten the people on its application for maximum output.
The governor urged Benue people to produce what they eat, adding that their salaries alone may not sustain them adequately.
In a remark, the Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, James Iorpuu said most Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, had returned to their farms, expressing optimism that the fertiliser would help farmers improve their agricultural production.
