*explains FG’s ban on fertilizers in Borno, promises to provide liquid fertilizers
By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum on Wednesday, toured 10 farmlands in the outskirts of four local government areas of the state, which include, Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), Jere, Mafa and Dikwa LGCs to monitor farming activities.
During the separate unscheduled visits, Governor Zulum, as a University Professor of irrigation farming, interacted with farmers, asking them their major challenges and problems they confront during the raining season with a view to addressing them.
During the visits, majority of the farmers were seen weeding and planting across most farmlands when the governor paid them the visits where he explained to them that unlike in other states, Borno State was not able to procure and allocate NPK fertilizer to farmers because there was an existing ban by the federal government through office of the National Security Adviser to the President.
“We have long been in receipt of a security letter from the office of the National Security Adviser which placed ban on the usage of urea as well as NPK across Borno State because insurgents use these fertilizer components to produce improvised explosive devices (IEDs). It will therefore, not augur well for the government of Borno State to distribute that fertilizer as the case in most states”, Zulum said.
The governor however, assured that the only option is to distribute liquid fertilizer while expressing his excitement with the turn out of farmers that he met in their farmlands during the visits.
He also got reports or feedback from the framers that similar and even more farming activities are taking place in areas like southern Borno which has been more peaceful over the years.
The governor said it was for that reason that he directed the allocation of farm inputs and tractors to farmers in parts of the three Borno senatorial zones:, namely, Borno Central, Borno South and Borno North.
He further promised to prioritize farming by enhancing agricultural activities across the state, especially , to ensure continued support agriculture by way of strengthening agro rangers and other security vigilante groups to sustain the tempo, ensure adequate security or safe of farming activities across the state towards boosting agricultural production and food security.
