From Kazeem Oduola, Dutse
Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa State, says his administration has invested more than N5 billion in farmer support services.
Namadi announced in an address to mark the first anniversary of his administration on Wednesday in Dutse.
TheNewsZenith quotes the governor as saying that the gesture was to encourage productivity and enhance food security.
“Sustained agricultural development is topmost in our commitment to transform the socioeconomic landscape of our dear state.
“The focus is to improve upon the existing policies and programmes to accelerate the contributions of the agriculture sector to grow the state’s economy.
“We are equally committed to providing sustainable means of livelihoods for the people,” Namadi said.
The governor hinted that his administration had developed a State Policy on Agriculture.
This is to align with agricultural interventions for the Greater Jigawa Project.
According to him, the policy seeks to develop and implement inclusive, robust and investment-focused agricultural programmes.
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The programme aligns with the vision for sustainable agri-business-based economic growth.
“Our 12-point Agenda, integrated into the State Development Plan, places a high premium on food and nutrition.
“It also focus on security, economic diversification, job creation and private sector development.
“Our agricultural investment programme is tailored to the new policy linked to these objectives,” the governor said.
He added that the programmed would revolutionise the agriculture as the primary platform for sustainable social and economic development.
Namadi reiterated his administration’s commitment to a sustainable rice and wheat cultivation programme.
According to him, the state government had distributed 9,200 tonnes of fertilisers, improved seeds and chemicals to wheat and rice farmers for dry season activities.
The government, he said, procured 60 tractors and 10 combine harvesters and equipped 60 rice mills with threshers and other machines.
This is to encourage agricultural mechanisation and processing as well as build farmer entrepreneurial skills.
He, however, decried the spate at which farmers diverse the inputs. He described the perpetrators as enemies of the state.
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