By: Abdullahi Inuwa
Hundreds of farmers in Katsina State have applauded Governor Dikko Umar Radda following the distribution of free agricultural inputs by the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project aimed at enhancing food production and improving rural livelihoods.
The intervention, which benefited selected farmers in Katsina, Jibia and Kaita Local Government Areas, is part of ongoing efforts by the state government and the World Bank-supported ACReSAL Project to strengthen agricultural productivity and build climate resilience among farming communities.
Speaking during the distribution exercise at Kabukawa, Katsina, the State ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Alhaji Nafiu Muhammed Musa, represented by the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Aminu Ahmed, said the initiative was designed to support genuine farmers and boost agricultural output across the state.
He explained that the project aligns with ACReSAL’s mandate of improving livelihoods, promoting climate-smart agriculture and supporting vulnerable communities through targeted interventions.
According to him, beneficiaries were selected through a rigorous and transparent process to ensure that only active and deserving farmers received the support.
“We constituted a committee that toured several communities in Katsina, Jibia and Kaita to identify genuine farmers. The goal was to ensure fairness, transparency and maximum impact of the intervention,” he said.
The coordinator disclosed that about 600 farmers would benefit from the free distribution programme, urging recipients to make effective use of the inputs to increase productivity, enhance food security and contribute to the socio-economic development of their communities.
Items distributed included solar-powered water pumps, fertilizers, pesticides, improved crop seeds, wheelbarrows, planters and sprayers, among other farming tools and equipment.
The beneficiaries, who received the items with excitement, described the intervention as a major relief amid rising production costs and economic challenges confronting farmers.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Malam Jamilu Lawal Jibia, a farmer from Gadirge community in Jibia Local Government Area, praised Governor Radda, the World Bank and the Katsina ACReSAL Project for what he called a timely and impactful intervention.
He noted that the support would significantly reduce the burden of purchasing expensive farm inputs while encouraging greater agricultural activities across the benefiting communities.
“This assistance has come at the right time. Many farmers have been struggling with the high cost of inputs. With these materials, we will be able to cultivate more land and increase food production,” he said.
Jamilu further commended Governor Radda’s commitment to empowering rural farmers, pledging that beneficiaries would make judicious use of the items to improve yields and support the state’s agricultural transformation agenda.
The latest intervention is seen as another step in the Radda administration’s drive to strengthen agriculture, enhance food security and improve the livelihoods of rural communities across Katsina State.
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