BOLTINGO (GOMBE STATE) – Farmers in Boltingo in Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State have appealed to the state and local governments to assist them with farming inputs to boost dry season farming.
Leader of the farmers, Malam Bala Ali, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen at the Kunuwal irrigation site yesterday.
“This area has over 50 irrigation farmers and is in dire need of government’s assistance in the provision of fertiliser, insecticides and water pumps, among others, to enhance our production capacity.
“For several years, farmers in this area engage in dry season farming activities, but we are yet to benefit from government’s gesture.’’
Ali said most of the funding and other inputs needed for farming were provided through the small savings from the farmers, and they now need government’s intervention to continue on.
“We will appreciate if soft loans can be made available to we the farmers to empower us economically in order to expand our farming,’’ he said.
Another farmer, Malam Mohammadu Isyaku, said the provision of such inputs would enable the farmers to increase their production of vegetables and other crops.
He called on government to assist the dry season farmers with the necessary inputs to encourage increased food/cash crop production and reduce poverty in the country.
The Kunuwal irrigation site has large hectares of land which were yet to be cultivated in spite of the availability of water in the area.