The Kano State Government has allocated over N200 million in the recently approved 2017 budget to boost rice farming in the state.
Mohammed Garba, the Commissioner of Information, disclosed this in an interview on Tuesday in Kano.
He said this was part of the state government’s efforts to boost the agricultural sector in the state to complement President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts to reduce over dependence on crude oil.
“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.
Garba said that in 2016, the state government contributed to the production of 1.3 million tonnes of rice, saying that it hopes to increase it to over 2 million tonnes in 2017.
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.
According to Garba, the extension workers would be provided with motorcycles to ease their movement especially at the rural areas.
(NAN)
