The Plateau Government said it has procured and distributed 777 trucks of fertilisers to farmers for the 2016 farming season, in a bid to boost production.

The State’s Commissioner for Information and Communication, Malam Nazif Muhammad, made the disclosure on Tuesday at a monthly news briefing in Jos.

Muhammad said that the figure translated to over 400, 000 bags that were sold to farmers at a subsidised rate.

The commissioner also said that apart from the fertiliser, the state government was committed to assisting farmers with farm inputs.

“Government has sustained this gesture in a variety of ways; for instance, improve seedlings of tomatoes and Irish potatoes were purchased and distributed to farmers at subsidised rates,” he said.

He further said that the state government has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Greenlands Integrated Agribusiness Limited to set up processing and storage facilities.

“They include; fruit and vegetable storage facilities, milk packaging plant, swine genetic centre, poultry plant and Integrated (wind and solar power) Generation Plant.

“Government also signed MoU with SOLBEC Ltd. for the resuscitation of abandoned Panyam Fish Farm.

Mr Ezekiel Daju, Commissioner for Commerce and Industries, in his contribution, said that the Fertiliser Blending Plant in Bokkos that was abandoned by successive administrations would soon be resuscitated.

Daju said that the machines at the plant had been repaired and tested for several hours and they worked efficiently.

He pointed out that when completed the plant would boost agricultural production and generate employment for the teeming youths of the state.

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Plateau Govt. distributes 777 trucks of fertiliser to farmers