Farmers Urge Early Supply Of Fertiliser

   Ebonyi Palm Fruits/Cassava Growers Cooperative Society on Monday called on officials of the state’s Ministry of Agriculture to ensure early supply of fertiliser to farmers in the state.
Chairman of the cooperative society, Mr. Augustine Irem made the call in Nguzu, Afikpo South Local Government Area, during an interactive session with the staff of the council’s agriculture department.
Irem urged the officials of the department to use their contacts in
securing fertiliser for farmers to ensure early planting of crops. “The procurement of fertiliser is usually ideal between late March and early April, especially for the benefit of
farmers whose farmlands are on the
hills. “When the fertilisers are applied on the crops within the stipulated period, it will serve the intended purpose but it would not do same if applied around June and July.
“Fertiliser applied on crops around June and July is usually carried away by heavy rain and would therefore be counter-productive to the farmers,” he said.
He noted that the interaction was
intended to explore avenues of
cooperation between the society and the council’s agricultural department.
“We would continue to ensure that our members are united, to create the desired atmosphere for the learning of different farming methods and attainment of other objectives,” he said. In his response, Chief Donatus Isu, Head
of the council’s Agriculture Department, called on farmers to learn modern farming methods.
Isu said learning new farming methods would ensure improved food production, as farmers would be able to avail themselves of opportunities provided by such methods.
    He said the Local Government had
commenced training of farmers to
improve on their farming techniques,
while providing them with improved
farm inputs such as seedlings, fertilisers, among others.
“This is to ensure bumper harvest of
farm produce, as the council is blessed with fertile soil and good climatic conditions,” he said.
He promised to liaise with the state’s
Ministry of Agriculture so as to ensure that adequate fertiliser and other farm inputs were provided to farmers in the area.
“Eighty-five per cent of the council’s
population consist of farmers, as we
would continue training them on
improved farming methods for increased food production.
“The council would also continue to
provide soft loans to farmers to enable them carry out farming activities and meet other agricultural needs,” he said.