By: Abdullahi Inuwa
The Katsina State Government has launched an ambitious agricultural industrialisation drive aimed at creating thousands of job opportunities through a proposed Agro-Allied Industrial Park in Batagarawa Local Government Area.
The project, which forms part of the economic diversification strategy of Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, will see the development of a large-scale agro-allied hub designed to attract processing industries, boost agricultural productivity and stimulate economic growth across host communities.
To facilitate the initiative, the government has set aside about 150 hectares of land at Tashar Bala village in Batagarawa Local Government Area for the construction of the Agro-Allied Industrial Park.
The proposed industrial park will extend its impact beyond Tashar Bala, covering several surrounding communities including Kaukai, Kadiyawa, Kwanar Dutse, Unguwar Liman, as well as parts of Abukur located within Rimi and Batagarawa local government areas.
As part of preparations for the project, the government has already disbursed about ₦270 million as compensation to landowners whose farmlands fall within the project site.
Presenting the cheques to beneficiaries at a ceremony held at the Batagarawa Local Government Secretariat, the Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, Dr Faisal Umar Kaita, said the compensation exercise reflects the administration’s commitment to fairness, transparency and inclusive development.
According to him, beyond monetary compensation, the state government has taken additional steps to ensure that affected farmers are not left at a disadvantage.
He disclosed that the government has allocated alternative farmlands at Tsanni Forest with official titles to 863 farmers whose lands were acquired for the project.
“In line with the policy of the present administration, those who lost their farmlands are not only compensated financially but also provided with larger alternative lands,” he explained.
Kaita revealed that under the innovative compensation system introduced by Governor Radda, any farmer who lost 10 hectares of farmland was allocated 15 hectares of new farmland with legal title, ensuring that beneficiaries receive greater opportunities to sustain their agricultural activities.
He further stated that residents whose houses were affected by the project would also receive special consideration.
According to him, the government will allocate new plots of land close to the project site for such residents and provide adequate financial support to enable them rebuild their homes.
The Agro-Allied Industrial Park is part of the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agricultural Investment (FRILIA) initiative being implemented by the Katsina State Government in collaboration with development partners.
Under the initiative, the park is expected to host agro-processing companies that will directly engage local farmers, create employment opportunities and stimulate economic activities within the host communities.
Officials say the project will significantly strengthen the state’s agricultural value chain by linking farmers with processors and markets while reducing post-harvest losses.
The industrial park is also expected to complement the Central Agricultural Mechanization Centre earlier established by the Radda administration in Tashar Bala village, creating a strong agricultural production and processing ecosystem within the area.
Stakeholders believe the initiative will unlock the vast agricultural potential of Katsina State, particularly in Batagarawa and neighbouring communities, while improving livelihoods and boosting socio-economic development.
With the project taking shape, observers say the “Building Your Future” agenda of Governor Radda is gradually translating into tangible economic opportunities for the people of the state.
Source: Yakubu Lawal
PRO MLPP, KATSINA
About The Author
