High Cost Of Input Responsible For Hike In Food Commodities – Expert

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ILLAJ Integrated Farms, Abubakar Dansadau, has disclosed that the high cost of the inputs, such as fertilizer are responsible for the hike in the food commodities.

Dansadau maintained that until governments at various level subsidized the input, food commondities may not be affordable and at the lower cost for the citizens.

He asserted this on Thursday while addressing a press conference in Kaduna, where he urged government on creation of road accessibility that will enhanced smooth transportation of farm produce from the farms to the markets.

While fielding questions from journalists, Dansadau also noted that with increased road network, the issue of insecurity can be dealt with, which according to him will drastically reduced the poverty level among citizens.

Speaking further, he said: ” all we need do is to embark on search for technology that would solve our problems, even the insecurity you see, countries like Japan, India have suffered from it, but they have found solutions to it, so, once we have one or two case studies, we will refer to them to solve our security challenges.”

On his quest to support the government in search of solution to the insecurity in the country, the ILLAJ boss said: “I am telling the state and federal government of Nigeria to invite ILLAJ, we will profer solution to the insecurity of this country.”

On his part, the Commissioner of Agriculture, Kaduna state, Murtala Mohammed Dabo, explained that the state is not relenting to see irrigation facilities around the water bodies are functioning optimally.

“My dreams as the commissioner of Agriculture in Kaduna state is to see that farmers in the state are working throughout the year, we want to see that our water bodies are put to use, we want to see how we can improve on the irrigation facilities around all the water bodies so that our farmers will be engaged all through the year,” Dabo explained.

Speaking on the supportive role of ILLAJ towards nation building, the Commissioner said: “ILLAJ has practically showed to us what exactly an integrated farm is all about, it is really fulfilling for me, they are not only into primary production but in the whole value chain, they are processors, they engage our small holder farmers, they are now engaged in seed processing.

” I know Kaduna state is leading in maize, ginger, soya beans and tomato productions, with the tour I took of the ILLAJ farms, I realized that we can artificially create any climate, with cocoa fruits and palm kernel been grown on the farm, you will think you are on a farm in Anambra or Ekiti states.”