Farmers in Nasarawa State, on Sunday advised against the late distribution of fertiliser by the Nasarawa State Government to ensure good harvest and avoid food insecurity.

The farmers expressed their feelings in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akwanga Local Government Area of the state.

According to them, the timely distribution of fertiliser to farmers would not only boost food production but fight hunger, as well as boost the revenue base of the state and the country at large.

Mr. Tanni Adamu, a farmer in Akwanga, said that the importance of early distribution of fertiliser to farmers was strategic to the development agriculture in the country.

“We are all aware that no society can live comfortably and survive without agriculture, which is the major source of livelihood of every family.

“We are now in July and we have not even heard any news concerning distribution of fertiliser to farmers by the state government.

“Everybody is aware that late distribution of fertiliser to farmers will certainly affect food production," he said.

He called on the Federal and state governments to always ensure timely and early distribution of fertiliser among other inputs to the farmers, so as to boost food production.

Mr. David Moses, another farmer, observed that the late distribution of fertiliser could affect the production of crops and called on the government to always ensure early distribution of the product.

“Most of us are poor; we cannot afford to buy fertiliser at the market price.

“This is why we are appealing to Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State to provide us with fertiliser early to ensure a bumper harvest," he said.

Reacting, the Executive Chairman of the Local Government, Mr. Abashiya Koto, called on farmers in the area to be patient, saying that the State Government would soon begin the distribution.

He assured farmers of the government's commitment to the distribution of fertiliser and other farm inputs in order to boost food production in the state. (NAN)

*Photo shows Gov. Al-Makura