….NG-CARES provides support to 11,760 farmers in Zamfara
The Nigeria Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES), says it has distributed 65,000 varieties of agricultural inputs to no fewer than 11,760 registered farmers in Zamfara.
Gov. Dauda Lawal-Dare of Zamfara who inaugurated the distribution of the items in Gusau on Wednesday said the initiative was aimed at enhancing food security as well as fulfilling his campaign promises.
According to him, the items included 33,000 bags of fertiliser, 22,000 liters of agrochemicals and 10,880 bags of improved seedlings of of Rice, Maize and wheat.
”This initiative was to also promote dry season farming by improving productivity of the farmers to dry season farming in the state” he said.
He said the programme was designed under the area to platform of Fadama (111) Coordinating Office of the NG-CARES to empower the farmers.
“The programme would also provide the critical infrastructure needed to boost agricultural activities across the 14 local government areas in the state,” he added.
He explained that his administration has given priority to the development of agriculture, security and education.
“We are determine to reposition agriculture through mass production of food and cash crops for commercial purposes and domestic consumption” he said.
“We want to key into the federal government policy of economic diversification to agriculture in line with the objectives of the NG-CARES programme.
“What we are doing is to boost the production capacity of 11,760 famers with the inputs to enhance food security, generate employment and promote economic sustainability,” he added.
“We will in due course distribute, over 700 power tillers to 19,000 farmers covering 735 clusters of ten farmers each.
“2,550 individuals mostly women will receive small ruminant animals like goats and sheeps to enable them achieve self-sustainability,” he said.
The governor said his administration would construct 70km of feeder roads, 40 markets and 12 Veterinary Clinics across the 14 local government areas to promote access to rural areas and boost the economy.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Yau Haruna urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the support for better yield during the dry season farming and avoid diverting the commodities.
Ibrahim Mohammed who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, commended the government for the initiative, assuring that they would make judicious use of the items.
