By HEADLINENEWS.NEWS Correspondent
120,000 Small Scale Farmers To Get Free 240, 000 Bags
HEADLINENEWS.NEWS gathered that his effort is to ensure bumper harvests required for food security, Governor Uba Sani has flagged off distribution of 500 trucks of fertilizer to farmers across Kaduna State.
This is just as the Governor disclosed that 120, 000 small holder farmers drawn from various groups will benefit from free 240,000 bags of fertilizer to support small scale farmers.
According to the governor, the smallholder farmers who would benefit from this exercise were carefully selected by an all inclusive, non – partisan Committee made up of representatives of the Kaduna State Chapter of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kaduna State Council of Chiefs, Kaduna Elders Forum, Nigeria Labour Congress, Religious Bodies, Security Agencies, and the Kaduna State Government.
In a ceremony on Monday held in the popular Murtala Square located in the heart of the city, Senator Sani said the initiative clearly demonstrated the steadfastness and commitment of his administration to empower agricultural sector as the backbone of the state’s economy, disclosing that, the sector contributed 42.81% to Kaduna State’s GDP and employed 42% of the total workforce.
To drive home his point of commitment to agriculture, Governor Sani revealed that his administration had budgeted over 22 billion naira on agric sector, a significant increase way above previous years, according to the Governor.
He described the state as a significant player in Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, ranking first in the production of ginger, contributing 76.4% to the national output, adding that the state also leads in maize production, contributing 7.4% of the national yield, and ranked second in soybeans production, contributing 9.4%.
“We are proud of our contributions to tomato, sorghum, rice paddy, and cowpea production, where Kaduna consistently ranks among the top producers in the country. These rankings underscore our pivotal role in feeding the nation and driving agricultural productivity.
“Since taking office in May 2023, we have made remarkable progress in enhancing food security, promoting rural livelihoods, and driving economic growth across the state. Allow me to highlight some of our key achievements:
Our Tallafin Noma (A Koma Gona) initiative, a part of our broader palliative program, targeted 42,000 small holder farmers and cooperatives across the state’s 23 LGAs. We have distributed quality seeds, agrochemicals, NPK and urea fertilizers, power tillers, vegetable grinders, and knapsack sprayers with personal protective equipment. This support aims to help farmers recover and enhance their productivity.
“To support all year-round farming, we have procured solar-powered irrigation pumps for smallholder farmers, ensuring consistent agricultural productivity even during the dry season.
“I am pleased to announce that the state government has successfully attracted the Africa Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC) project to Kaduna State. This cutting-edge facility, supported by the African Export-Import Bank (AFREXIMbank), will provide testing, certification, and inspection services for agricultural products. This initiative will position Kaduna as a hub for these essential services, benefiting Nigeria and neighboring African countries, and further enhancing our agricultural sector.
“My dear citizens of Kaduna State, recall that we experienced a significant setback in the ginger farming sector due to the outbreak of the ginger blight epidemic, which cost our farmers and state billions of Naira. In response, we distributed 12,800 units of agrochemicals and secured a N1.6 billion recovery package from the National Agricultural Development Fund to assist farmers in relaunching their livelihoods.
” We also faced a severe Fall Armyworm (FAW) infestation in maize fields across the state. In collaboration with the Institute of Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, we implemented a statewide emergency response plan and provided pesticides to all the 23 local governments of the State to combat the outbreak. Rapid response teams were deployed to address the issue swiftly.
“In livestock sub-sector, we successfully vaccinated animals and provided pre-exposure vaccinations to various veterinary and community workers. Our avian influenza (bird flu) mitigation campaign involved decontaminating live bird markets, distributing advisory literature, and sensitizing the public to prevent the spread of the disease.
“We recently launched a comprehensive vaccination campaign against Anthrax and other Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs). This campaign includes vaccinating 850,000 cattle, and 250,000 sheep and goats. This effort underscores our commitment to protecting both human and animal health and ensuring a stable agricultural environment,” he said.
