We’ve empowered 5,323 farmers to contribute to Kano food basket – Govt

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

The Deputy Governor of Kano State, Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna has said that 5,323 farmers in the state have benefited from the Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) programme.

The deputy governor, who is also the state’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, stated this at a media briefing on Monday.

He said the beneficiaries have cut across the 44 Local Government Areas of the state on three value chain of rice, tomato and wheat production.

Gawuna explained that the farmers had benefitted with 13 percent of total production of rice, 22% of the total tomato production and 11% to the wheat of the total production of the state.

“We also encourage participation of women in this aspect as part of the government policy, making sure that women are included when it comes to issue of agriculture.”

The Deputy Governor further said that the state government had

reclaimed 150 hectares of land which amounts to N378 million annually lost to soil erosion under the Watari Irrigation project.

“There is the Watari Irrigation project that has been completed. It has 962 hectares out of which before 40% or 384 were unutilized because of the dilapidation of the dam and infrastructure there. But because of this project, APPEALS project, it is fully utilized.

“There is also the renovation whereby the 150 hectares previously lost to soil erosion has been reclaimed. The estimated loss on the 150 hectares annually is up to 378 million.

“Currently, the Watari expansion stood at 1,000 hectares and approximately, 4,000 farmers are to benefit directly. With the expansion, we have increased the land use of the Watari Irrigation site. Though it has been in used but we will formally Commission the project soon because it is very important project,” Gawuna said.