Dry season distribution of fertiliser, 4,000 power tillers and 4,000 solar pumps

It is with great pleasure and pride that I welcome you all to the official flag-off ceremony of the 2024/2025 dry season distribution of 80 trucks assorted fertilizer, 4000no power tillers and 4000no solar water pumps to our committed farmers in Katsina State.

As we mark the end of 2024 cropping season with remarkable success in bumper harvest which serve as a litmus test to our determination to attain food security in the state and Nigeria at large, this bring us to the beginning of another dry season 2024/25.

Our administration has prioritized agricultural sector as the mainstay of the state’s economy by way of enhancing GDP, IGR, employment opportunities, investment, curving rural-urban drift, miming indolence and improved livelihood.

Our strategic collaborations and partnership with development partners such as NG-CARES, IFAD-VCN, RAAMP, ACReSAL, IsDB, AfDB-SAPZII among others has opened up green opportunities for investment into value addition, agro-processing, financial inclusion and stimulating the local economy.

Last year, we started dry season farming support programme where we supported farmers under six commodities viz: tomato, pepper, onion, cabbage, carrot and water melon with drilling of bore-hole, solar water pump, N.P.K fertilizer, urea fertilizer, herbicide and insecticide at six (6) clusters per LGA, across 34 local government areas of the state. A total of 2040 farmers were supported.

Today, we are doubling the number of solar water pumps and to be sold at ₦300,000 to a group of four farmers, power tillers at ₦450,000 to a group of ten farmers payable within a period of 12 months while for the fertilizer will be distributed at ₦25,000. All the mention farm assets & fertilizer prices are equivalent to 50% subsidy.

May I at this juncture commend the generousity of the Federal Government through CBN for donating 80 trucks of assorted fertilizers to Katsina State Government. These inputs are meant to be distributed to genuine farmers to enhanced food production in the State.

These farm machineries are meant to reduce if not totally eliminate farm drudgery, build resilience of the farmers from reduced access to animal traction. It is an investment in your future, your families’ future, our state’s future and the future of our dear nation. By sustaining soil productivity and fertility with the fertilizers couple with tillage machineries and ensuring sustainable water application through the solar powered machines, you can have increased crop yields, translating to higher revenues and improved livelihoods without altering the ecosystem.

Before I conclude, it is very importance to highlight the projects we implemented under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development from January, 2024 to December, 2024 as follows:

S/N

PROJECT (S)

Total Cost

Quantity

Location

Stage of Completion

Project Status

Beneficiaries

•

Dry Season Vegetable Farming across the 34 LGA’s, in collaboration with Local Governments.

1,900,000,000.00

Across the State

100%

Completed

2,040 Farmers in the State.

•

Procurement of Fertilizer for 2024 Farming season

21,436,000,000

20,000mts

Across the State

100%

Completed

350,000 Farmers

•

Resuscitation of Songhai at Makera

53,000,000.00

Dutsinma

10%

On-going

•

Purchase of 722 Motorcycles/Knapsack Sprayers to Extension workers across the State.

839,021,760.00

722 Motorcycles/Knapsacck sprayers

Across the State

100%

Completed

722 Coopted Extension Agents

•

Woman Empowerment on Agricultural Enterpreneurship.

146,219,283.00

Across the State

40%

Ongoing

4,426 vulnerable Women .

•

Repairs of 3no Tractors at KTARDA

4,855,400.00

KTARDA HQ

100%

Completed

•

Conduct of two (2) days Capacity Building Training of 722 co-opted Local Government Agric Staff

53,633,200.00

Across the State

100%

Completed

722 Coopted Extension Agents.

•

Minor Repairs of Daberam Dam, Daura

1,462,000.00

Daberam

100%

Completed.

•

Jibia Irrigation Activities, supervisions and water supply at Jibia Irrigation Schemes.

78,000,000.00

Jibia

100%

Completed

•

Minor Repairs at Bakori Irrigation Scheme

1,928,000.00

Bakori

100%

Completed

•

Rehabilitation of Sagawa Irrigation Scheme

4,728,000.00

Sagawa

100%

Completed

•

Repairs of 3No Zonal Produce Stores at Funtua,Daura and Katsina.

2,550,000

Funtua,Daura and Katsina.

100%

Completed

•

Procure Agro-chemical & Spraying equipment for prevention and Control of Emergency outbreak

Across the State

100%

22nd July,2024

•

Purchase and Distribution the assorted improved Seeds for sales to farmers for the 2024 planting

46,607,600

Across the State

100%

Completed

350,000 Farmers

•

Settle PPS to the Governor to cater for the exigencies of transporting 80 trucks of fertilizer NPK & UREA from Kaduna Port Harcourt and Kakuri respectively

72,500,000.00

100%

Completed

•

Demonstration Training on Enterprises development for Woman and Youth on Income generation activities

2,550,000

Daura Senatorial Zone

100%

Completed

150 Woman and Youth

•

Demonstration Training on Enterprises Development for Woman and Youth. (IFAD CASP)

17,387,974.00

Across the State

100%

Completed

100 Woman and Youth

•

Recertification of Cooperative Society Project

2,000,000.00

100%

Completed

•

Rehabilitation of Dutsinma Songhai Center

33,068,800

Dutsinma

10%

Ongoing

•

Resuscitation of Cotton Value Chain In the State

59,967,000.00

Funtua (WACOTT)

100%

Completed

2,000 Farmers

•

Zoonotic Disease Control

9,660,000.00

Across the State

100%

Completed

•

Development of Pan African Control of Epizootic

6,425,000.00

Across the State

100%

Completed

•

Ranch Development

688,943,450.00

11 LGAs

70%

Ongoing

•

Transportation of Food Grains From Federal Government

39,924,840.00

Katsina

100%

Completed

•

Agricultural Mechanization (Purchase of Agric Implements)

10,000,000,000.00

•

Purchase of Liquid Fertilizer

10,000,000.00

50%

Ongoing

•

Procurement of Solar Water Pump and Power Tillers

8,281,340,000.00

4,000 Solar water pump and 4,000 Power Tillers

Across the State

90%

Ladies and gentlemen, let us all put our hands on deck to build our future through agricultural and industrial revolution. Finally, I wish all our farmers a successful dry season and crave your indulgence to work hard for excellence in your farming endevour.

Thank you. May Allah (S.W.T) bless Katsina State, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.