By Seyi Odewale
Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, yesterday unveiled the distribution of free fertilisers’ worth over N1bn to smallholder farmers including females and people with disabilities in the state.
A statement by the spokesperson to the Governor, Sanusi Bature, said the initiative was in fulfilment of the governor’s campaign promise to improve livelihood through investment in agribusiness.
Yusuf had during his campaign promised to champion agricultural transformation through the provision of quality and affordable inputs as contained in his 70-page blueprint presented to the people of Kano titled: My commitment for Kano.
The statement noted that over N1bn worth of NPK fertilisers that was distributed to 52,800 smallholder farmers across the 44 Local Government Areas were produced by the state-owned Kano Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO).
While flagging off the agricultural input disbursement, Governor Yusuf explained that the intention was to reduce the cost of production and boost food security.
The state executive council had also approved the procurement of over five billion naira worth fertilisers that will soon be made available to Kano farmers at subsidised rate.
The Governor stressed that farmers already battling with the high cost of inputs and labour occasioned by economic reality, now have cause to redouble energy to multiply their produce.
He emphasised the government’s readiness to sustain food production through a regular supply of fertilizer production by the state-owned company (KASCO).
Governor Yusuf said KASCO and other state manufacturing centres are being strengthened to revertilise revenue flow and sustain the economy of the state.
The beneficiaries which include women farmers and people living with disabilities are expected to receive 25kg of NPK fertilizer to support their farming activities and eventually boost the yield of their crops and improve the livelihood of the people.
