Food scarcity: Bauchi farmers get fertilizer as Foundation moves to boost agricultural productivity

Amid the soaring food inflation in Nigeria, occasioned by shortage of foodstuffs, farmers in Kaduna State have received 6,000 bags of fertilizer and other farm inputs from Wunti Al-khair Foundation as part of a programme aimed at boosting agricultural productivity in the country.

The bags of fertilizer and other farm inputs were distributed to farmers across 20 local government areas of Bauchi State in the first phase of the programme.

In a statement on Thursday, the foundation which has the core objective of ameliorating hardship faced by Nigerians due to rising food prices, said the programme was launched in Bauchi on Wednesday.

The development is coming amid escalating economic hardship, and worsening hunger, in Nigeria, which is facing a severe food crisis that has led to food inflation surging to 40.8 per cent in June 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS.

The latest NBS food price index shows that the prices of some food items have risen by over 250 per cent year-on-year.

Specifically, the NBS said the average price of 1kg of brown beans skyrocketed by 252.13 per cent, from N651.12 in June 2023 to N2,292.76 in June 2024. Tomatoes recorded an even steeper increase of 320.67 per cent, with prices rising from N547.28 to N2,302.26 per kg.

An official of the foundation, Ismail Wunti, disclosed that, in line with efforts to tackle the food crisis, the distribution of fertilizers would be extended to farmers in other parts of the country.

The first phase of the project began in seven Bauchi LGAs, including Toro, Alkaleri, Kirfi, Misau, Dambam and Darazo. Other LGAs will receive the farm inputs on Saturday.

The beneficiaries include members of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Bauchi State chapter, and individual small-scale farmers selected from wards across the state, according to Wunti.

Wunti noted that the programme is aimed at alleviating the economic burden on farmers struggling with high prices of essential commodities and farming inputs, particularly fertilizers.

He said, “This initiative is a significant contribution towards achieving food sufficiency and security, and is expected to bring relief to farmers, enhance agricultural productivity, and boost economic growth,” he said.

The Head of Enterprises of the foundation, Mr. Ango Mustapha, further explained that the rationale behind the gesture is to assist local farmers, considering the high cost of fertilizer.

Noting that all selected farmers would receive two bags of fertilizer, he urged the beneficiaries to use the fertilizers judiciously so that it would translate to a bumper harvest by the end of the year.

Bauchi State Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mallam Yakubu Sambo, commended the foundation for supporting local farmers with fertilizers.

He said the initiative was timely, considering the high prices of fertilizer in the country.

Some of the beneficiaries, including Ibrahim Fada, Hajiya Hauwa’u Abbas and Yusuf Kilishi, from Bauchi LGA, expressed happiness at the development.

Also, farmers from Toro Local Government, including Mrs Tabita Dabo, Yusuf Yan’Kwanan Lame and Ibrahim Yari, expressed gratitude to the foundation for the support.

Yari described the gesture as a significant succor in view of the exorbitant prices of fertilizer in the country.