The Kano State Government has initiated a comprehensive agricultural intervention to restore the state’s former status as a leading agricultural hub.
The state government announced that the federal government has also contributed by providing MPK and Urea fertilizers.
These fertilizers will be distributed to farmers through a committee that includes representatives from traditional and religious institutions, the police, and other stakeholders.
Dr. Danjuma Mahmoud, the Commissioner for Agriculture, revealed this information during a press interview in Kano on Tuesday.
He detailed the significant financial investments made by the state government, stating that N1.2 billion has been spent on 52 trucks of fertilizer and an additional N5 billion on 180 trucks.
The state-owned Kano Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO) is set to produce 200,000 trucks of fertilizer by the end of the season.
Dr. Mahmoud also highlighted the state government’s efforts to rehabilitate 20 neglected dams, including the Kafinchiri dam. Moreover, 1,299 hectares of land have been cleared for irrigation farming in Dansoshiya Village.
To support local farmers, the government has distributed 52 trucks of fertilizer free of charge across the 44 local government areas.
Additionally, 180 trucks of fertilizer purchased from KASCO are being sold at subsidized rates to farmers.
The government is also focusing on capacity building by training 440 extension workers. These workers have been deployed to local governments to educate farmers on the use of new improved seeds and modern farming implements.
Dr. Mahmoud assured that the government’s initiatives are geared towards achieving bumper harvests, curbing hunger and starvation, and restoring Kano’s reputation as a prominent agricultural center.