Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi said his government has approved N26 billion to implement the state Agricultural Mechanisation Policy, which aims to improve food production, job creation, and poverty eradication.
Governor Namadi revealed this while speaking to journalists in the Auyo local government shortly after flagging off the distribution of empowerment packages, which included agricultural implements provided by members representing the Kaugama/ Auyo federal constituency for his constituency.
He explained that under the policy, his Government would embark on a massive conversion of diesel and petroleum water pumps to CNG and procure hundreds of solar-powered water pumps to support dry-season farmers in tackling the high fuel cost and reducing their production costs.
The governor also revealed that the contract has already been awarded for the purchase t of 300 Tractors, 300 Disc ploughs, 300 Disc harrows, 300 Disc riggers, and 300 Tipping trailers.
He explained that other modern farm implements in the approved contracts are a 150-pound Multipurpose Planter, a 150-pound Rice Seeder, a 40-pound Combined Harvester, and an 80-pound Boom Sprayer.
“The state executive council has also approved N263,160,000 for the three-month training of 30 master technicians in China. Sixty centres would be established, with two centres in each of the 30 state constituencies for continued manpower training to meet with the state mechanisation and industrialisation project.”
“The state had early this year approved the loan of N1,000,000,000.00 only to the Jigawa Agricultural Supply Company (JASCO) for assisting it to supply modern and affordable farm implements including procurement of 67 units of Tractors for supporting Mechanisation of farming in the state.”
“Since assuming office in our government, we have been working day and night to support our teaming farmers with access to subsidised farm implements, including seeds and fertiliser, as well as providing them with empowerment packages, access to soft loans for building their capacity catch-up with our Agric Mechanization,” Governor Namadi stated.
The Governor maintained that. his administration administration has placed agriculture as a cornerstone for the state’s growth and economic development.
“As I said, Agriculture is one of the critical sectors in our 12-point Agenda designed to make Jigawa prosperous and great; in pursuing these, we are committed to collaborating with the federal government, politicians, public and private companies, individual, partners, civil societies and all critical stakeholders for achieving our ultimate goals” Governor Namadi declared.
