21st June, 2018
The Katsina State Government says it would continue to support agricultural activities through regular supply of farm inputs to farmers at subsidised rate.
Dr Mustapha Inuwa, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Daura on Thursday.
Inuwa said the present administration in the state places great premium on key sectors like agriculture, security, youth empowerment, education, health and infrastructure among others.
He said government had procured and distributed tonnes of fertiliser, seedlings and insecticides to farmers at subsidised rate to further promote agriculture at the grassroots level.
Inuwa noted that within the last three years, the administration had invested huge sums of money in the procurement of agricultural inputs, as well as training of extension workers.
He added that government had also distributed tractors on loan to farmers, “in our quest to achieve agricultural mechanisation’’, adding: “We will continue to supply standard agricultural inputs to our teaming farmers especially considering the fact that about 90 per cent of our people are farmers.’’
The SSG also reiterated the commitment of the state government in making the state crime free through collaborative efforts with stakeholders on security.
Inuwa said government had been able to address the precarious security situation in the state as instances of security breach like cattle rustling; armed robbery and banditry have been tackled through collaboration with security agencies.
He added that government has also put in place strategies to check menace of drug abuse especially among the youth who happened to be the vulnerable group.
“We are working hand in hand with relevant control agencies in bringing this sordid attitude to an end,’’ Inuwa said.
He assured of the commitment of the state government towards empowering youths through education, job creation and agriculture.
“We will soon expand the scope of our empowerment programme to capture more unemployed youths,’’ Inuwa said.