Kano govt distributes fertiliser to smallholder farmers

The Kano State Government on Thursday began the distribution of N1 billion worth of fertilisers to small-holder farmers in the state.

Governor Abba Yusuf, during the ceremony at the Government House in Kano, said the distribution was in fulfilment of his campaign promise to improve livelihood through investment in agribusiness.

The governor had, during his campaign for the 2023 elections, promised to champion agricultural transformation through the provision of quality and affordable agricultural inputs.

This is contained in his 70-page blueprint presented to the people of Kano entitled “My Commitment for Kano.”

The governor said the NPK fertiliser would be distributed to 52,800 smallholder farmers across the 44 local government areas of the state.

He said the farm input was produced by the state-owned Kano Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO), saying the intention was to reduce the cost of production and boost food security.

Mr Yusuf said the State Executive Council had also approved the procurement of over N5 billion worth of fertiliser to be made available to farmers at a subsidised rate.

The governor said the intervention would help farmers already battling the high cost of inputs and labour to redouble their energy to upscale their productivity.

He pledged the government’s readiness to sustain food production through a regular fertiliser supply by KASCO.

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Mr Yusuf said KASCO and other state manufacturing centres were being strengthened to revitalise revenue flow and boost the economy.

The beneficiaries, who include women farmers and people living with disabilities, are expected to receive 25 kg of NPK fertiliser each.