The Hon. Minister, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, CON, has revealed that Katsina State Government was set to partner with the Ministry to commence dry/wet season farming to enhance food security, alleviate poverty and others.
The Minister made this known during the courtesy visit by the Executive Governor of Katsina State, Mallam Dikko Umar Radda PhD, to his office, in Abuja recently.
He stated that the visit signified the strong partnership and collaboration between the State and the Federal Government in the collective efforts to ensure food availability and affordability.
Sen. Abubakar expressed gratitude to the Governor of Katsina State for his remarkable successes in Agriculture knowing too well that Agriculture is the bed rock of the economy.
He stated that Katsina State was one of the front line states to help achieve Mr. President’s agenda on food Security in the country, noting that dry/wet season farming was one of the sure ways to achieve it.
While expressing his gratitude to Umar Radda for the state notable achievements in preparing farmlands and distributing agricultural inputs, particularly in the ongoing wheat dry season farming, Kyari emphasized the crucial role of such collaboration in achieving the country’s agricultural goal.
The Minister, also pointed out the need to supply improved seed to farmers in order to tackle the challenges of poor production of crops which farmers lament about to ensure improved agricultural yield.
Speaking further, he revealed that collaboration with State and local authorities and setting up of task force team to supervise farmers would help achieve success.
The Minister, therefore expressed the Ministry’s commitment to partner and collaborate with Katsina State and promised to make improved seeds available for the state at this dry season farming, noting that it would be a transparent distribution to genuine farmers.
In his remarks, the Hon. Minister of State, Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, CON, lauded the Executive Governor of Katsina State, Mallam Dikko Umar Radda, PhD, for working for his people and his commitment to bringing agriculture to higher level.
He thanked him for being a big champion for food security drive and assured of collaborating cooperation with the Ministry.
In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Katsina State, Mallam Dikko Umar Radda commended the Ministry for the initiative and indicated his interest in the dry season farming, noting that the state had commenced irrigation farming and would provide the required data for farmers in Katsina State as requested by the Federal Government.
The Governor revealed that the state is reviving the Agriculture Extension in Katsina State by picking two persons per ward, equip them with motorbikes.
He added that he wants to train the youth of the state with a facility being negotiated with NALDA, pointing out that, it will reduce redundancy among the youth.
Radda also stated that, he will be collaborating with Local Government to rehabitate small dams for irrigation purposes, identifying lack of adequate data for farmers, as a challenge.
He, therefore, noted that Katsina State was ready to key into Federal Government programmes to help farmers and called for synergy between the State government and Federal government, assuring that Katsina State will continue to cooperate with the Ministry to achieve food security.
Umar Rashida
Principal Information Officer
For: Director Information
