The Kaduna state government says it has begun the distribution of free agricultural implements and fertilisers to cooperatives to promote year-round farming and boost productivity.

Murtala Dabo, Kaduna commissioner of agriculture, who spoke on Saturday, said the distribution began at the ministry’s central warehouse in Dankade village.

The commissioner said the distribution of free farm implements on such a large scale is unprecedented in Kaduna.

He added that the government intends to ease farmers’ struggles in irrigating their land, particularly due to rising petrol prices.

“Fuelling their pumping machines on weekly basis eats into the profit margins that they would have naturally made,” Dabo said.

“This massive support that is coming from His Excellency, the Governor, is going to help greatly in bringing down the cost of production, which should ultimately bring down prices.”

Dabo added that Uba Sani, Kaduna governor, procured a combined harvester to help farmers lower their production costs and improve agricultural efficiency.

“Last year, we had to go to Borno state to hire. The wheat farmers in Galma were paying and queueing for their turn. Today, these machines are ready to move to the field and start harvesting,” Dabo added.

The commissioner noted that the benefiting cooperatives comprised genuine farmers and were selected without prejudice to their political affiliations or ethno-religious identities.

Malam Garba, chairman of dry season farmers cooperative society in Zaria, said “today is a day of joy for all farmers in Kaduna state”.

“Since Kaduna state was created, there has never been this kind of government intervention,” he said.

“Government spent a lot of billions to purchase them and gave us free of charge. We have been given all that is required to enable dry season farming free.”

The chairman asked beneficiaries to use the implements properly and cautioned them against selling the items, restating their importance in boosting agricultural productivity.

Each 10-member cooperative received a package containing an 18-horsepower tiller, an 18-horsepower 3-inch solar-powered irrigation pump, a 13-horsepower 2-inch solar-powered irrigation machine, and a gasoline-powered irrigation pump.

Additionally, each cooperative got 30 bags of urea and NPK fertilisers — three per member — along with a motorised knapsack sprayer, a carton of herbicide, and a carton of pesticide.

Source - https://www.thecable.ng