Farmers in Gombe State are raising concerns about the whereabouts of 2,000 tonnes of fertiliser, donated by the Federal Government to support food security for the 2024 wet season. Despite the announcement by Governor Muhammadu Yahaya during a flag-off ceremony in June, the fertiliser has yet to reach many farmers, leading to widespread frustration.

On Wednesday, several farmers alleged that the fertiliser had not been distributed as expected, with some claiming it was instead handed out to “political farmers” who are allegedly linked to the political elite. This has sparked calls for Governor Yahaya to ensure a fair and transparent distribution process to benefit the genuine farmers in the region, especially with the dry season farming just around the corner.

Esther Bitrus, a rice and maize farmer from the Dadin Kowa community, voiced her dissatisfaction with the situation. She pointed out that while state-subsidised fertiliser is available at N22,000 per bag, it is being selectively distributed, and farmers like her have been forced to purchase fertiliser at higher market prices.

“It’s disheartening that despite the Federal Government’s goodwill, we’re left to fend for ourselves in these challenging times,” Bitrus said.

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Sarah Yakubu, another farmer, echoed the frustrations, questioning why Gombe should be left behind when states like Kano and Nasarawa are receiving fertiliser for free. She warned that neglecting farmers in Gombe could exacerbate food shortages and increase rural poverty.

Umar Hamisu, a farmer from Nafada, shared similar concerns. He explained that the lack of affordable fertiliser severely impacted his ability to grow crops like sorghum and wheat this year. “We heard that President Tinubu supported us with fertiliser, but nothing reached our villages,” Hamisu lamented.

Aliyu Kashere, a grain farmer, added that Gombe farmers urgently need support, just like those in other states. “The government should ensure proper distribution for the dry season,” he said.

However, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Cooperatives, Dr. Barnabas Malle, denied the accusations of misallocation. He assured that the fertilisers had been properly distributed to legitimate farmers and that Governor Yahaya’s oversight had prevented any diversion of the supplies. According to Malle, both federal and state fertilisers, totaling 4,000 tonnes, were distributed to cooperatives and individual farmers at subsidised rates.

Barrister Abdullahi Jalo, the Chairman of the Fertiliser Distribution Committee, also responded to the allegations, clarifying that he had only taken over the committee’s leadership after the distribution of federal fertiliser had already started. He stressed that the fertiliser was given to farmers before he assumed his role. However, when asked for a timeline on the federal fertiliser delivery, Jalo deferred to the governor, mentioning that the state’s fertiliser records were still being finalised.

With the dry season fast approaching, farmers are hoping for swift action to ensure fair and effective distribution to support their upcoming planting season.