- 4000 power tillers, 4000 solar water pumps, fertilizers
From Agaju Madugba, Katsina
The Katsina State Government on Monday flagged off the distribution of various farm inputs to farmers from across the 34 Local Government Areas for the 2024/2025 dry season farming.
The items being distributed include 80 trucks assorted fertilizer, 4000 power tillers and 4000 solar water pumps, “to our committed farmers in Katsina State,” according to Governor Dikko Umaru Radda.
He noted that the 2024 cropping season ended with with remarkable success in bumper harvest “which serves as a litmus test to our determination to attain food security in the state and Nigeria at large.”
According to the Governor, “our administration has prioritized the agricultural sector as the mainstay of the state’s economy by way of enhancing GDP, IGR, employment opportunities, investment, curbing rural-urban drift and improved livelihood.
“Our strategic collaborations and partnership with development partners such as NG-CARES, IFAD-VCN, RAAMP, ACReSAL, IsDB, AfDB-SAPZII among others have opened up green opportunities for investment into value and financial inclusion addition, agro-processing and stimulating the local economy.
“These farm machineries are meant to reduce if not totally eliminate farm drudgery, build resilience of the farmers from reduced access to animal traction.”
Also speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, described Katsina as amenable to dry season farming, “on the condition that the right facilities, equipment and incentives are provided.
“This is what the Katsina State government has done with the procurement of these modern implements and fertilizers.
“These interventions will guarantee increased production, enhanced farmers’ livelihood through promotion of sustainable practices and optimum resource use efficiency.
“By relying on renewable energy to run the water pumps and by greening the field with cultivated crops, Katsina is contributing to Nigeria’s carbon credit and this is one move I would recommend to other state, so that collectively we all make progress.”
“Katsina was one of the states where production took place with 99.74 per cent success recorded during the 2023/2024 dry season wheat cultivation as well as 98.23 per cent success recorded in the last 2024 wet season farming, all under the Federal Government, FMAFS-NAGS-Agro Pocket Input Support Programme.”