15,000 farmers in Katsina State have been selected from the three senatorial zones as beneficiaries to be trained in modern agriculture practices, as part of the State Government’s measures to drive increased agricultural output and ensure food security.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Musa Adamu in an interview with press men recently in Katsina State.
Adamu highlighting the current achievements of the present administration towards advancing the agriculture sector in the state, stated that 5,000 hectares of farms each in Dutsin-ma, Funtua and Mai’adua, had been established by the government to accommodate the engagement of youths who were recently trained in Benin Republic while pledging the support of the government to expand production, through the purchase of the farm produce of the state farmers.
Furthermore, he outlined that the government had established livestock, fisheries, bee-keeping, irrigation and seeds production centres on the three farms, and has begun earning revenue from the Dutsin-ma centre from sales of vegetables, fish, poultry, animals and grains.
According to him, 60 youths of the state had been sponsored by the government for training at the Songhai Farms, Port Novo – Benin Republic in a bid to eradicate poverty, create employment opportunities as well as advance agricultural productivity.
The beneficiaries of Songhai Agricultural Initiative he commented would be given free seeds, subsidized fertilizer and pesticides.