FADAMA program in conjunction with African Development Bank (ADB) has distributed relief materials to 2,000 farmers affected by the 2012 flood in 10 Local Government Areas of Katsina State.
The items distributed on Tuesday included 6,000 bags of fertiliser; 4,000 bags of improved seedlings; 3,000 litres of pesticides and 10 multi-purpose thrashers.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Musa Adamu, who launched the distribution, said the gesture would complement the State and Federal Governments’ efforts in cushioning the damage caused by the flood.
Adamu said 90 per cent of people engage in farming which attracted increased investment to the sector from the three tiers of government and agencies such as Fadama.
He said the state government had rehabilitated 27 irrigation sites including three Federal Government site, and provided various assistance for both rainy and dry season farmers.
He said the assistance involved inputs, loan schemes and extension worker services.
Alhaji Bala Shu’aibu, who represented the National Fadama Programme Coordinator, said 600 bags of fertiliser were allocated to each affected local government where 300 bags would be distributed free.
Shu’aibu said 300 bags would be sold at subsidised rate of N2, 000 per bag.
He also said that 400 bags of improved seedlings and 300 litres of pesticides would be distributed free, while a thrasher would be installed in each of the affected local government areas.
He said the affected local governments were; Faskari, Kafur, Rimi, Mani, Kankia, Kankara, Mai’aduwa, Baure, Kaita and Katsina, adding that 200 people would benefit in each of the affected areas.
Alhaji Sani Danjari, the state Secretary, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), commended the state government for drilling wells at irrigation farms, reviving agricultural shows and other forms of support to farmers in the state.
The Transition Committee Chairman of Kankara Local Government, Alhaji Abdulhadi Abdullahi, thanked Fadama for the support, which he said, was timely.