NAN-AE-9
Mechanisation
By Zubairu Idris
Katsina, Jan. 22, 2018 (NAN) The Katsina State Government has promised to support farmers in the state in efforts to boost agricultural productivity through mechanised farming.
Gov. Aminu Masari gave the promise in Katsina on Monday when he received the Award of Excellence on Mechanisation of Agriculture from the Tractors Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria (TOOAN).
“The present APC administration in the state will not relent in its efforts to boost mechanised agriculture by assisting farmers to obtain tractors and other farm implements on loan basis.
“The government will not buy tractors and distribute them free of charge to politicians and friends without proper repayment procedures like it happened before, thereby making government to look as a charitable organisation.
“We are happy to inform you that the beneficiaries of 225 units of tractors have started paying back to the Indian company, Mahindra Ltd., which supplied the tractors for farmers in the state,’’ he said.
Masari said that the administration would continue to partner with relevant stakeholders to boost agriculture in the state.
He pledged that the state government would accord agriculture a top priority to promote food security, create jobs and reduce poverty among the people.
In his remarks, Dr Abba Abdullahi, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, said that the state government would continue to assist farmers to have access to tractors to boost their production.
He urged people to support the government policies which were all aimed at moving the state forward.
The National President of TOOAN, Mr Elisha Bitrus, said that the association decided to give the award to the governor because of his efforts to improve agricultural production in the state.
Bitrus urged Masari to sustain his efforts to develop agriculture in the state. (NAN)
ZI/JEY/OOK
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Edited by Johnson Eyiangho and Dayo Komolafe