The Kano state government has developed about 1, 000 additional hectares of arable land to boost irrigation farming in the state, the state Deputy Governor, Dr Nasiru Yusuf-Gawuna, has announced.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, in Kano, Yusuf-Gawuna said the decision was in the light of the increasing number of irrigation farmers at various irrigation sites, following government’s encouragement.
“Because of the encouragement the government is giving to farmers, our rice production has been increasing every year,” he said.
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He said that the state had 23 irrigation sites with half of them billed for dredging, resuscitation and finally being put to use by farmers, to enhance agricultural production.
“We are also creating more irrigation land, very soon we will open up close to 1,000 hectares of lands because for one to sustain food security and availability, you have to produce at least twice a year.
“Countries like Israel that doesn’t have rainfall, produce all year round, why not here, we have abundance of irrigation dams, rainfall and the land,” he said.
The deputy governor explained that because the state had the highest number of rice mills in the country, government wants to champion all year-round production, in addition to providing the infrastructure and enabling environment for irrigation.
“So, even if Kano is not the highest producer of something, it will become first or second in marketing,” he said.
He also stated that the state government had revived its fertilizer blending company to supply the product to farmers at affordable rate, and in both quality and quantity.
Yusuf-Gawuna also said that the government had recruited additional 1,000 extension workers and deployed them to different parts of the state to assist in implementing government’s agricultural policies and training farmers on modern farming techniques. (NAN)
