The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Bukar Tijani, has ordered the immediate release of agricultural inputs to farmers in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States despite imposition of emergency rule by the federal government.
According to a statement signed by Deputy Director Information in the ministry, Mr. Ben Goong, the directive was to ensure that the emergency rule did not affect agricultural production in the states during the 2013 planting season.
The ministry denied reports that the distribution of agricultural inputs to farmers in the affected states had been suspended due to the disruption of telecommunications services in the states.
“Arrangements have been concluded for the registration of farmers which now has an updated register. We will personally go round to monitor the roll-out of the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme in these parts of the country in the coming days until the exercise is completed,” he said.
The minister instructed state directors in the affected states and relevant stakeholders to partner GES Scheme officials in the
distribution process.
He also enjoined the directors to deploy the use of media platforms, especially radio stations to alert local farmers, so as to ensure their responsiveness to the gesture.
Bukar charged federal directors in the ministry to use details of the recent nationwide farmers registration exercise to effect the distribution of the inputs without relying on text messages on off-line basis since the ban on the use of telephone in the three states was still in force.
