Katsina to distribute 400,000 tonnes of fertiliser, others ahead of wet season

Katsina State is set to distribute about 400,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser ahead of rainy season farming activities. The state is also set to commission agricultural mechanisation centres in the coming days. Governor Dikko Umaru Radda said this in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the executive secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), […]

Katsina State is set to distribute about 400,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser ahead of rainy season farming activities.

The state is also set to commission agricultural mechanisation centres in the coming days.

Governor Dikko Umaru Radda said this in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the executive secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), Mohammed Abu Ibrahim in Abuja to seek partnership and collaboration on agriculture

“First week of May, we are going to flag off the distribution of fertiliser before the rainy season, which is about 400,000 metric tonnes  worth N21 billion. All these things we are doing are to support our farmers to revolutionise our agriculture.

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“As we are all aware, about 90 per cent of my population in Katsina State are into agric and the agricultural value chain. Ninety per cent or more of our micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Katsina are into agricultural enterprises – from production to processing. So there is nothing we will do to support our people than to support them in agricultural enterprise,’ the governor said.

He said that in the next two weeks, the state government would also commission agricultural mechanisation centres in all the 34 local government areas of the state.

“We bought over 400 tractors, combined harvesters and over 1,000 planters. All these tractors came with their implements, harrows, plow and tillers.

“Because of insurgency and cattle rustling, a lot of our farmers don’t have the cattle to do ridges for them as it used to be in the northern part of the country. So we provided power tiller machines to over 4,000 of our farmers so that it would ease this problem. We did this through the community-level committee.

“When you invest in agriculture, you are investing in about 90 per cent of our people, who are living in abject poverty; and those in the rural areas who have no means of support. That is why, last year alone, Katsina State bought over 400,000 tonnes of fertiliser and distribute to every polling unit in the state, not a ward, because we wanted to reach the real farmers.

While thanking the governor for the visit, the executive secretary of the NADF, Mr Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, said the agency was ready to work with the relevant authorities to develop the country’s agriculture systems.

He said the agency’s doors were open for collaborations and partnerships that would promote and boost the sector.