By Ike Uchechukwu, CALABAR

The Federal and Cross River State government says it has subsidised input for 500 farmers to produce 500 metric tonnes of wheat in Obudu Local government area of the state.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari made the disclosure during the distribution of the inputs to the farmers at the weekend in Obudu.

Kyari said that both governments took the decision to subsidise the inputs by paying 75 and 25 percent respectively to take the burden off the farmers aa it concerns sourcing for fund.

The input which includes fertilisers, seeds, agro chemicals and others were among the items given to each of the 500

The Minister represented by Mr Jessem Ubi, Chief administrative officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, explained that the wheat cultivation was under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) programme.

He said “While the government committed N167 million for the 500 wheat farmers in Obudu, the Cross River government paid N56 million, representing 75 and 25 percent respectively.

“This payment also includes footing the bill for land preparation for the wheat farmers and the farmers are expected to cultivate an hectare each,” he said.

On their part, the state disclosed plans to increase the cultivation from 500 hectares to 3000 hectares in July 2025.

The Special Adviser on Agriculture to the Governor, Prof. John Shiyam said that the 500 hectares cultivate by the 500 farmers will be harvested between 85 to 90 days from now.

He further said that a lot of effort was put in place for harrowing and irrigation of the land for the 500 hectares.

“A lot of farmers could not afford to pay the 25 percent requirement, hence the reason for the state government intervention.

“We have concluded plans to cultivate 3000 hectares by July during the rainy season, the 500 hectares is for the dry season and we are doing this through irrigation abs of course, you know the challenge.”

Speaking on market for the wheat, the governor’s aide said, “we already have the flour mill in Calabar who before now go as far as Kano and other northern states for wheat. There is also Nigeria Brewery.”

On his part, the state chapter chairman of wheat farmers association, Mr Alina Peters stated that the federal government has given each of their member two bags of fertiliser and improved seed of wheat for cultivation.

Peters added that the state governor also assisted the members in ploughing and harrowing the land.