Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno on Wednesday paid surprise visits to farmers in four local government areas to discuss challenges facing rural farmers in the state.
The governor visited at least 10 farms in the outskirts of Maiduguri Metropolitan, Mafa, Jere, and Dikwa local government areas.
Zulum who monitored farming activities in the areas and discussed with the farmers, explained to them that the challenge on fertilizer was caused by the insurgency.
Zulum said the insurgency has resulted in the ban of fertilizer by Federal Government in the state to stop the use of the commodity by insurgents in preparing explosives.
“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 explained that the only option is to distribute liquid fertilizer.
Zulum who expressed satisfaction with the increase in farming activities as a result of relative peace and improved security in the state, said it was for that reason that he directed the allocation of farm inputs and tractors to farmers in all the three Senatorial zones of the state.
He reiterated the commitment of his administration to focus more on agriculture and strengthening of agro rangers and other security groups to sustain safe farming activities across the state.
