Faskari council distributes 100 pumps to irrigation farmers

October 27, 2012 09:04

NAN-H-4

Farmers

Faskari (Katsina State), Oct. 27, 2012 (NAN) Alhaji Isiyaku Faskari-Ahmad, the Interim Chairman, Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, on Saturday said the council had distributed 100 pumping machines to irrigation farmers.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Faskari that the gesture was aimed at boosting food security and reducing extreme poverty among the people.

Faskari-Ahmad said that the machines were distributed free to encourage farming activities in the area, especially among the teeming unemployed.

He said the council embarked on free distribution of farm input to farmers in recognition of farming as the major occupation of the people.

He expressed optimism that the gesture would encourage increased food production, stressing that agriculture provided jobs to millions of Nigerians while increased government support would facilitate development.

The chairman said the council had sold fertilisers, seeds and other inputs at subsidised rates to both rainy season and irrigation farmers and enjoined the beneficiaries to make proper use of the items.

He said his administration had embarked on the construction of feeder roads and health facilities in the rural areas to ease the difficulties faced by the people and enhance their living conditions.

He said 10 health centres had been inaugurated while the construction of four feeder roads began in September.

Alhaji Idin Alo, the chairman, Irrigation Farmers’ Association in Faskari, commended the local government for the gesture, saying that it would enhance economic activities in the area.

He said farmers in the area were known for cultivating vegetables, tubers and other items in commercial quantities through irrigation which served as lucrative sources of livelihood to their families. (NAN)

HMH/DCU/SIA

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