By Hassan Ibrahim
The Katsina State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening agriculture through a series of interventions aimed at increasing food production, improving farmers' productivity and enhancing food security across the state.
The State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Prof. Ahmed Bakori Muhammad, made this known during an interview with journalists in Zaria.
He said the administration has introduced strategic policies and programmes to revitalise the agricultural sector and improve the livelihoods of farmers.
Prof. Bakori identified insecurity as the most significant challenge facing agriculture in Katsina State, noting that when the present administration assumed office in 2023, approximately 126,000 hectares of farmland could not be effectively cultivated because of security concerns.
He said the government has prioritised the restoration of farming activities in the affected areas to increase agricultural output and stimulate economic growth.
The commissioner explained that an assessment conducted by the government revealed that the high cost and inadequate supply of fertiliser were among the major constraints limiting crop production.
In response, he said the state has implemented measures to ensure the timely availability of fertiliser at subsidised rates, while also introducing targeted support programmes for dry-season farmers.
He further disclosed that the government has provided 10 tractors to each of the state's 34 local government areas to promote mechanised farming and ease the burden on farmers.
In addition, he said Governor Dikko Umar Radda has approved a 50 per cent subsidy on land preparation, reducing the cost of ploughing one hectare of farmland from ₦60,000 to ₦30,000.
Prof. Bakori added that the government is also supporting women and smallholder farmers affected by insecurity and has launched livestock vaccination programmes to protect animals from disease and improve livestock production across the state.
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