News in brief:
– Katsina State spent ₦36 billion on 20,000 metric tons of fertiliser, tractors, and farm inputs for 2024.
– The government also invested in extension services, research, and storage facilities to support farmers.
The Katsina State Government has invested over ₦36 billion in procuring 20,000 metric tons of fertiliser for the 2024 farming season, alongside other agricultural initiatives to boost food production. The Deputy Governor, Alhaji Faruq Lawal-Jobe, made this known during the state’s monthly news conference on Sunday in Katsina.
Mechanised farming gets ₦21.7 billion boost
In addition to fertiliser procurement, the government allocated over ₦21.7 billion for the purchase of 400 tractors with full accessories, 2,000 hand planters, and 10 combine harvesters. Lawal-Jobe stated that these efforts are geared toward providing farmers with modern agricultural equipment to improve productivity.
To further support agricultural infrastructure, ₦790.5 million was spent on upgrading seven zonal produce stores in Funtua, Daura, Katsina, Mani, Kankia, Kafinsoli, and Malumfashi. The government also pledged to revive the Songhai Farm Centre at Makera in the Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area and strengthen the Cotton Value Chain project to ensure year-round farming, create jobs, and boost the state’s economic viability.
Support for extension workers and fertiliser distribution
To enhance agricultural extension services, the government provided 722 motorcycles and knapsack sprayers to extension workers deployed across the state’s 361 wards for effective farm monitoring.
Lawal-Jobe also disclosed that newly introduced liquid fertilisers were distributed to farmers to improve crop yields. The state has also completed the Katsina Sustainable Platform for Agriculture (KASPA) project at the Ministry of Agriculture headquarters.
Investment in research, farmer data, and agrochemicals
The State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KTARDA) has been actively engaged in supporting farmers, with the government spending ₦273.6 million on various agricultural development initiatives.
These include:
- The purchase and distribution of 40 motorcycles for monitoring farm activities.
- Provision of agrochemicals to help farmers control pests.
- Distribution of 54,150 moringa seedlings across the state.
- Training and empowerment of 150 women on backyard gardening and nutritive food supplement formulation.
To improve agricultural planning, KTARDA also conducted a farmer data collection exercise to document the farming population, crop value chains, farm sizes, and locations.
The government invested ₦386.1 million through the Farmers Supply Company Ltd (FASCOKT) to ensure the availability of essential agricultural inputs.
As part of this initiative, the state rehabilitated warehouses in Funtua and Daura for storing seeds, agrochemicals, and farming equipment, alongside repairs of one service centre. Improved seeds and assorted agrochemicals were also distributed to farmers.
Additionally, resources have been directed toward enhancing livestock production and grazing reserves, demonstrating the government’s commitment to a comprehensive agricultural development strategy.
