The use of fertilizer as part of components for making improvised explosives by insurgents in Borno state, a practice brought to national attention over four years ago, has persisted.

According to investigation by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), this has led to scarcity of the farm input thus negatively affecting agricultural productivity in the state.

Some of the farmers in the state told NAN that generally, insurgency has affected farming as a business or pastime because most farmers can no longer work without fear on their farms.

NAN reports that for farmers in the state, the security challenges have made it difficult to cultivate “crops they want”, but rather make do with “crops they can cultivate” under the prevailing circumstances, whether cash or food crop â€œOur farmers hardly get fertilizer due to its ban for security reasons as it is being used by insurgents to manufacture improvised explosives,” Maina reaffirmed.Chairman of Rice Farmers Association (RIFAN) in Borno, Alhaji Bulama Maina, reaffirms that the insecurity in the state still affects agriculture as a result of the restriction placed on the procurement and movement of fertilizer by security agents.

He called for more commitment to end the insurgency by all stakeholders for peace to return to the state and the North – East zone in general.

Maina said a peaceful atmosphere will enable farmers engage in their trade and increase agricultural productivity.

Alhaji Allamin Umara, Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Borno, says insurgency has affected both cash and food crops production.

Meanwhile, in a related development, Archbishop Julius Ediwesaid the fact that there has been a strategic alliance against Nigeria by neighbouring countries has aided the Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters in launching offensives in the country.