Kano State Commissioner for Information, Mohammed Garba, in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano, on Tuesday disclosed that the State Government has earmarked over N200 million in the recently approved 2017 budget to boost rice farming in the state.
He said this was part of the state government’s efforts to complement President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts to reduce over dependence on crude oil and also to boost the agricultural sector in the state.
“Rice and wheat farmers were given N150 million loan in 2016 to boost production in the Sector, while in 2017 we are planning to increase the loan.
“All necessary measures will be taken to ensure that the ordinary farmers in the state benefit more from the gesture,” the commissioner said.
According to Garba, the state government contributed to the production of 1.3 million tonnes of rice in 2016 and it hopes to increase it to over 2 million tonnes in 2017, NAN reports.
He said, “the state government has concluded plans to employ more Agricultural extension workers to assist farmers across the state.
‘These extension workers would be going round the farming areas to assist the farmers on how to ensure proper production of rice and wheat,” Garba said.
The commissioner also added that motorcycles would be made available to the extension workers in order to ease their movement especially at the rural areas.
Posted by Juliet Ekwebelam
