The Borno State Government said on Saturday that it had released N100 million for the purchase of surplus onions produced by farmers in the state.
Alhaji Zanna Mustapha, the Deputy Governor of the state dropped the hint in Maiduguri, while inspecting some bags of onions, which had been purchased and kept at the government’s central stores.
Mustapha explained that the gesture was in fulfilment of the government’s promise to purchase the surplus onions to prevent further price depreciation. He said that the onions would be be re-bagged and transported to some parts of the country where there was high demand for the commodity. The deputy governor also said that part of the onions would be distributed to schools in the state for students feeding.
Also speaking, Malam Inuwa Kubo, the Commissioner of Education told the deputy governor that the onions were being handled properly to prevent rot. Kubo, who doubles as the chairman of the committee for the purchase of the onions, said that the committee had only purchased the commodity from farmers in Dikwa, Marte and Ngala, allin Borno.
“We are expecting produce from other farmers in a couple of days time. We have also hired about 10 persons to take care of the onions by sorting out bad ones from the rest to prevent contamination,” he said.
It will be recalled that Gov. Kashim Shettima last month approved the purchase of the surplus onions produced by the farmers after he visited some of the farms at Marte.
The price of an onion bag had fallen from about N2,000 to N600 due mainly to surplus production and absence of markets.(NAN)
