Writing By Is’mail Adamu, Editing by Godwin Duru
Katsina State government says it has injected 72.6 billion in the state’s agricultural sector in the last two and a half years years, resulting in significant improvement in food and livestock production in the state.
The state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Faruk Lawal Jobe, disclosed this at the monthly press briefing held at the Old Government House in Katsina.
He explained that the huge investment in the sector was in recognition of its crucial role in attaining food security, employment generation, wealth creation and poverty alleviation.
He noted that N36 billion was spent on the procurement of 20 thousand metric tons of fertilizer for the 2024 farming season as well as purchase of 722 motorcycles and knapsack sprayers for 722 extension workers who were engaged by the state government last year.
“N21.7 billion was also expended for the procurement of 400 tractors with full accessories, two thousand hand planters and ten harvesters in order to provide our farmers with agricultural implements to boost food production in the state”, Jobe said.
He explained that N790 million was spent to revive the Songhai agri-business farm in Dutsinma, upgrade seven food stores in Katsina, Funtua, Daura, Kankia, Kafinsoli, Malumfashi and Mani, and provide incentives for all-year-round cotton farming in the state.
The Deputy Governor explained that in the livestock sub-sector, the state government has spent N5.7 billion for the purchase of 32 thousand goats to improve the rural economy.
He noted that under the Goat Rearing Initiative, four goats each were given to ten women in each ward while 50 goats were given to selected large scale livestock farmers, bringing the total to 90 goats for each of the 361 wards in the state.
“This package also consists of bags of wheat offal, mineral salt lick, and up-keep of the goats to ensure effective breeding.
“The second component of the programme is multiplication and genetic improvement in which 3,000 heads of goat will be utilised for artificial insemination for a period of one year at the Ladanawa Farm Centre.
” hectares has also been allocated for pasture development and provision of animal house to provide conducive environment for the animals.
The Department of Livestock has also within the period under review expended N796 million for the conduct of numerous livestock and grazing activities.
These include state-wide vaccination exercises and anthrax prevention and control campaigns at Jibia, Mai’adua, Baure, Batsari, Danmusa, Faskari, Sabuwa, Dandume, Sandamu and Musawa Local Government Areas.
Isma’il Adamu
