Most of the farmers who spoke with our correspondent in Ilorin confirmed that they are yet to get fertilizer either from the federal or state government.

Daily Trust, however, gathered that since government is not forthcoming, many farmers are now settling for organic fertilizer procured at the rate of N1,200 and N1,500 per bag.

Last year, the government distributed the commodity to farmers at a subsidized rate of N2,500 per bag but the farmers lamented that they are in the dark on government’s plan for the year, especially when the rain has finally sets in. It was gathered that a bag of inorganic fertilizer is sold at the rate of N5,300 to N5, 800 at the open market

The chairman of AFAN in Kwara State, Alhaji Hassan Abdullahi, confirmed that they are yet to get fertilizer from government and lamented the delay in the distribution of the commodity. He disclosed that at least 65 per cent of farmers, which cut across the 16 local government areas of the state have registered in anticipation of fertilizer but they are not sure when they are going to get the items.

Also speaking, the Secretary of Youth Farmers’ Association, Mr. Kehinde Osasona, who also confirmed that they are yet to receive the commodity, expressed dismay that fertilizer often ended up in the hands of “political farmers” who after getting it from government sell at higher prices to the real farmers.

“Majority of farmers are on the verge of settling for inorganic fertilizer instead of relying on government supply since we are not sure of when we are to get it from government. So, most of the farmers are settling for inorganic fertilizer made of leafy materials and at times animal waste because we apply fertilizer during pre-planting operation. So, we cannot continue to rely on government fertilizer which is not forthcoming”, he said.