FG donates 4,000 water pump machines, other items to Katsina farmers

The Federal Government has donated farming equipment worth millions of naira to farmers to boost dry and wet season farming in Katsina State.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, made this known during the launch and distribution of farming items procured and donated to farmers by the state government.

Kyari identified items donated to the farmers, including 4,000 water pump machines and 4,000 units of sprayers.

Other items are 4,000 liters of insecticide chemicals, 4,000 liters of selective herbicides, and 4,000 liters of non-selective herbicide.

Additional items include 4,000 units of organic fertilizer and 4,000 units of hermetic storage bags.

The minister said the donated items are aimed at complementing the state government’s efforts to develop the agricultural sector in the state.

He added that supporting farmers with such items would alleviate their burden and enable them to carry out farming activities with ease.

He also commended the state’s efforts to improve farming activities, noting that Katsina had cultivated more than 12,000 hectares of farmland, against the expected 15,000 hectares.

On his part, Governor Dikko Radda said the farming equipment bought by the state would be distributed free of charge to benefiting farmers.

Radda identified the items, including 4,000 hand-powered tillers, 4,000 solar-powered water pumps, and 48,000 bags of assorted fertilizer.

He also added that more than 39,000 goats would be distributed to selected women farmers to boost animal husbandry in the state.

The governor said measures were put in place to ensure the items reached only bona fide farmers in the council areas.

He warned against selling the items and added that security and extension workers would help monitor their use.