Alkaleri (Bauchi): Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has announced a N45 billion investment to upgrade the state-owned Fertiliser Blending Plant.
He said this during the inauguration of the 2025 fertiliser distribution exercise on Saturday at Dajin Duguri community in Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state.
Mohammed said the project is being implemented through a strategic partnership with the Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP) Group of Morocco.
He said the upgraded facility was designed with a 45 tonnes per hour production capacity to enhance farmer access to the commodity.
“As part of the government’s ongoing agricultural support, 20 tractors have already been distributed to farmers across the 20 Local government areas, with an additional 40 tractors procured this year to be provided on a loan scheme,” he said.
Mohammed said the NPK brand of fertilisers would be sold to the farmers at a subsidised rate for the 2025 cropping season.
He said the state government also conducted extensive soil testing to equip farmers with the most suitable fertilisers and crop varieties for their specific zones.
The governor urged the youths to embrace farming, stressing that his administration would roll out initiatives to encourage the growth of agribusinesses.
Mohammed said that his administration also approved a two-day leave of absence for civil servants to enable them to engage in farming activities.
He commended the civil servants for ensuring full repayment of farm input loans they accessed during the 2024 cropping season.
Dr Iliyasu Gital, the Commissioner for Agriculture, reiterated the administration’s commitment to ensure the timely distribution of affordable fertilisers to the farmers.
Represented by Bala Lukshi, Commissioner for Livestock Development, Gital stated that the state government, in collaboration with the Federal Government, had trained 1,000 youths in modern farming skills.