NAN-H-26
Farming
By Kola Adeyemi
Lokoja, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) The Kogi State Government on Tuesday said arrangements were being concluded for the establishment of six farm settlements across the three senatorial districts of the state.
The Special Adviser to the governor on Local Government Affairs, Mr Abubakar Ohere, spoke of the plan in Lokoja.
He was addressing the administrators of the state’s 21 local government councils on the New Agenda blueprint of the state government
Ohere said that farmers in the settlements would be encouraged to embark on mechanised farming and be provided with extension services to ensure food sufficiency in the state.
The adviser said that the proposed farm settlements were being initiated in response to the government’s desire to use agriculture to create jobs and wealth for the youth.
According to him, farmers that will be engaged under the scheme will also be trained on how to handle simple farming tools.
He said that the farming tools would be fabricated locally to save money while the tools would be sold to farmers at subsidised rates.
Ohere said that 252 sheabutter farmers selected across the 21 local government councils in the state would be going for a capacity building train the trainers workshop in Minna , Niger State.
According to him, the training is to take place in the next few weeks as part of efforts by government to make the product a foreign exchange earner.
The Special Adviser disclosed that all the local government councils inherited a loan of N4 billion from the previous administrations.
He, however, said the state government was taking steps to ensure that this did not impede service delivery to the people at the grassroots.
Ohere charged the council administrators to ensure effective implementation of the New Direction blueprint through quality leadership style and good governance.
He also warned them against allowing sentiments and tribalism to creep into governance at their respective councils.
The Chairman of the state chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Mr Taufiq Isa, also spoke at the event.
He promised that the administrators would implement the quick win areas in the New Direction Agenda for the benefit of the people. (NAN)
KKA/COO/SOA
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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle