Govt, UN partner to support vulnerable women in Kebbi

Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal has flagged off sale of fertilisers to farmers at subsidised rates to boost farming. Tambuwal, while declaring the sale open at Agricultural Store, Kasarawa, Wamakko Council, said the aim was to boost production, reduce poverty and create jobs in the state.

The governor announced that one bag of 50kg Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium (NPK) fertiliser that was procured from the Federal Government at N4,500 would be sold for N4,000 while Urea, which is sold for N9,800 in the market, would go for N5,000.

According to him, the transport cost of all brands of fertiliser would be borne by the state to make the products affordable to farmers.

“Our state has a comparative advantage in the production of some crops because of our weather, and the government is poised to offer maximum support to harness these potential and fast track economic and social development of our people,” he said. He further disclosed that his government had put some strategies in place, in collaboration with security agencies, for those in the eastern part of the state to tend their farms unperturbed.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arzika Tureta, had thanked the governor for his support to the ministry. The ministry has evolved concrete strategies to check sharp practices by middlemen and fertiliser racketeers, he added, assuring that fertilisers would be supplied to farmers directly at the rural areas.

MEANWHILE, Kebbi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and United Nations Women, has flagged off palliative for vulnerable women in the state.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Aisha Maikurata, stated in Birnin Kebbi yesterday that the partnership was aimed at supporting the poorest of the poor women.

She said most of the beneficiaries were widows, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) patients and People with Disabilities (PWDs).Her words, “In realisation of this goal, the ministry had the first phase of the palliative distribution, and the beneficiaries were 50 women with disabilities, 50 widows, 50 elderly, and 30 people living with HIV.” Maikurata disclosed that rice, garri, palm oil, toilet soap among others were distributed to 180 women.