The Katsina State Government said it has purchased farm inputs worth N8.2 billion for distribution to irrigation farmers at subsidised rate.
The state government also said that the gesture was to boost the farmers’ productivity and guarantee food security in the state.
Gov. Dikko Radda stated this on Monday in Katsina at the launch of the distribution of the inputs for the 2024/2025 dry season farming.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inputs included 4,000 hand-held power tillers, 4,000 solar-powered water pumps, and 48,000 bags of fertilizers.
Radda explained that one solar water pump would be given to each group of four farmers, while a power tiller would be given to 10 farmers, all at subsidised rate and would be paid in 12 months.
He said that his administration was prioritising the agricultural sector to enhance Internally Generated Revenue, reduce rural-urban migration, create more job opportunities and improve livelihoods in the state.
“Let us put our hands on deck to build our future through agriculture and industrial revolution.
”I wish our farmers a successful dry season and crave your indulgence to work hard for excellence in your farming endeavors,” he said
The governor added that the government would distribute about 39,600 goats to some women under its goat breeding initiative to boost animal husbandry in the state.
Radda said during the last dry season, 2,040 farmers benefited from the vegetable farming scheme.
He added that the state government purchased and distributed 20,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer to 350,000 farmers across the state during the 2024 rainy season.
Radda further said that the government distributed motorcycles and sprayers to 722 extension workers to improve extension services.
It also supported farmers with high yield seeds and rehabilitated some irrigation schemes, among other efforts.
In a message, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Abubakar Kyari, said that the intervention would no doubt increase production and enhance farmers’ livelihoods through promotion of sustainable practices.
He, therefore, urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the items given to them to achieve the set objectives.
Kyari revealed that the President Bola Tinubu’s administration was farmers’- friendly, and would continue to support farming activities. to increase productivity and guarantee food security in the country.
He also announced that the Federal Government has donated some inputs for distribution to farmers in the state.
They included: 4,000 water pumps, 4,000 knapsack sprayers, 4,000 litres of insecticides, and 4,000 litres of selective herbicide.
Others, he said, were 4,000 litres of non selective herbicides, and 4,000 litres of organic fertilizer, among others.
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Prof. Ahmed Bakori, said that 85 per cent of the people in the state engaged in farming activities.
He said that the government would continue to use the agricultural value chain to create job opportunities for the people and attain food security.
Bakori said that the government has a tracking device to be monitoring the movement of the equipment, and has directed security agents to arrest and prosecute anybody who sell the items.(NAN)
