The Farmers Supply Company Katsina (FASCOKT) and the Cotton Producers and Merchants Association of Nigeria (COPMAN) have launched a subsidised cotton seed distribution programme for 1,000 farmers in the state.
The initiative, inaugurated on Saturday in Malumfashi, aims to make quality cotton seeds affordable and boost cotton production during the current farming season.
Speaking at the event, the General Manager of FASCOKT, Mustapha Radda, said the company remains committed to providing quality agricultural inputs at affordable prices.
He noted that the state government’s 50 per cent subsidy on the seeds is designed to encourage increased cotton production.
Radda expressed confidence that the programme would boost cotton output, improve farmers’ incomes, and strengthen the cotton value chain in the state.
He commended Governor Dikko Radda’s administration for its continued support to farmers through input provision and other agricultural interventions.
The Chairman of COPMAN, Katsina Chapter, Abdurasheed Lawal, represented by the association’s Public Relations Officer, Abdulsalam Musa-Kafur, said the programme reflects the association’s commitment to supporting cotton farmers and reviving the state’s cotton industry.
Lawal urged beneficiaries to make good use of the seeds and adopt best farming practices to achieve higher yields.
Dr Suleiman Umar, the state Coordinator of the Agricultural Department Unit (ADPU), represented by Yusuf Ibrahim, Director of Mechanisation, described the partnership between FASCOKT and COPMAN as a commendable effort to revitalise cotton farming.
He urged farmers to embrace modern farming practices to boost yields.
In his goodwill message, the Vice Chairman of Malumfashi Local Government Council, Muntari Adamu-Dayi, described the programme as timely and encouraged farmers to maximise the benefits of the subsidised seeds.
Also, the Galadiman Katsina, Justice Sadiq Abdullahi-Mahuta, represented by Sarkin Fulani, Aminu Abdullahi, expressed optimism that the initiative would enhance cotton farming, improve productivity, and strengthen the value chain.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Women’s Leader Jamila Yahaya and Mika Mu’azu thanked FASCOKT and COPMAN for the support.
They said the programme would reduce production costs and pledged to use the seeds effectively to improve cotton output.
