Kaduna distributes free implements, fertilisers, others to farmers — Features — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

The Kaduna State government has commenced the distribution of free agricultural implements and inputs to cooperative groups, to enhance all year-round farming across the state.

At least, 10 members from each cooperative group were given a package that consisted of a 18 horse-power Tiller, an 18 horse power 3 inch solar-powered irrigation pumping machine and a 13 horse-power 2 inch solar-powered water irrigation machine, and a gasoline powered water irrigation pumps.

Also, each cooperative group was also given 30 bags of Urea and NPK fertilisers, which translates to three bags per member, one motorised knapsack sprayer, one carton of herbicide and another carton of pesticide.

Recall that Governor Uba Sani had launched the Dry Season Agricultural Empowerment Programme at an elaborate ceremony at the Murtala Square on February 16.

The distribution of the farming implements commenced last week, as the Commissioner of Agriculture, Alhaji Murtala Mohammed Dabo, gave out the items to the benefitting cooperatives at the premises of the Ministry’s central warehouse, Dankade village.

While speaking at the occasion, the commissioner said it marks the first time government is distributing free farm implements on a massive scale in the state, describing the support as unprecedented.

Dabo disclosed that government’s gesture is to ameliorate the pains farmers go through to irrigate their farmlands, especially owing to the rise in petrol price.

He said: “Fuelling their pumping machines on weekly basis eats into the profit margins they would have naturally made. This massive support coming from the Governor is going to help greatly in bringing down cost of production, and should ultimately bring down prices.”

The commissioner also explained that the Uba Sani administration also procured a Combined Harvester, which is expected to help farmers in reducing their cost of production.

‘’Last year, we had to go to Borno State to hire. The Wheat farmers in Galma were paying and queuing for their turn. Today, these machines are ready to move to the field and start harvesting,’’ he added.

According to him, the benefitting cooperatives comprise real farmers who were chosen irrespective of their political affiliations or ethno-religious identities.

Speaking to journalists, the Chairman of Dry Season Farmers Cooperative Society Zaria, Malam Garba, said: ‘’Today is a day of joy to all farmers in Kaduna State.

‘’Since Kaduna State was created, there has never been this kind of government intervention. We have been given all that is required to enable dry season farming free,’’ he said.

The chairman, while advising beneficiaries to put the implements into good use, further said that they should not sell the items, adding that “government spent billions to purchase them and gave us free of charge.’’