One thousand, five hundred small holder farmers in Katsina State have received various farming inputs from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
While distributing the inputs to the farmers at the Federal Secretariat Katsina, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Mohammed Mahmood said the gesture was aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and food security in the country.
The Minister who was represented by a director at the ministry, Mr. Ukatta Bernard, said the items were distributed to the farmers free, in order to encourage them to multiply their yields.
He said 15 percent of the inputs were distributed to farmers with disabilities while 35 percent were given to women farmers in line with the National Gender Plan of the ministry.
Mr. Bernard said the ministry will continue to support smallholder farmers with various inputs to encourage mechanized, large scale agricultural production in the country.
In his remarks, the Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Agricultural Production, Alhaji Muntari Dandutse urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the farming inputs by engaging in mechanized and business driven agriculture.
The lawmaker said the House Committee on Agricultural Production was making efforts in collaboration with security agencies to ensure that farmers in security flashpoints are able cultivate their farmlands.
In his speech, the Katsina State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Alhaji Suleiman Salisu said the 500 farmers were selected from each of the three Senatorial zones of the state in order to make a far-reaching impact on agricultural productivity in the state.
He urged the various crop associations and cooperatives to monitor the beneficiaries to ensure that they put the inputs to good use.
Isma’il Adamu