The Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmed Aliyu, has launched an ambitious initiative to support dry-season farming across the state’s 23 local government areas.
The program includes the distribution of free fertilizers and other agricultural inputs to farmers, with a special focus on empowering women and youth.
Speaking during the inauguration event in Wamakko Local Government Area, the governor emphasized the importance of the initiative in improving food security, ensuring a bountiful harvest, and creating job opportunities, particularly for grassroots communities.
Highlighting the achievements of his administration, Aliyu noted that during the last rainy season, the state government distributed a wide range of agricultural inputs, including over 45,000 bags of NPK, 24,000 bags of Urea, 20,000 liters of agrochemicals, and 20,000kg each of rice, sorghum, and millet seeds. Youth and women groups also benefited from free agricultural equipment such as water pumps, threshers, and grinding machines.
In continuation of these efforts, each local government area will now receive three trucks of assorted fertilizers for dry-season farming.
The governor stressed that these measures aim to boost agricultural output, enhance economic growth, and make the state more self-reliant.
To further support irrigation activities, the state government has completed the Kware Irrigation Scheme, covering 450 hectares, which will soon be allocated to farmers.
Work has also commenced on the Wurno Irrigation Scheme, while the rehabilitation of the Lugu Dam is set to begin.
Governor Aliyu urged the people of Sokoto, including civil servants, retirees, politicians, and business owners, to actively participate in agricultural activities to leverage the opportunities provided by his administration.
He also highlighted ongoing partnerships with national and international organizations aimed at transforming Sokoto’s agricultural sector into one of the best in the country.
The state government, he said, remains committed to collaborating with the Federal Government and development partners to diversify revenue sources and ensure food security. Plans are also underway to encourage cash crop farming, particularly cotton and groundnut production.
The governor called on beneficiaries of the initiative to make proper use of the support provided and warned against the misuse or diversion of resources.
He assured that strict measures have been put in place to prevent any malpractice during the distribution of fertilizers and other inputs for the 2024 dry-season farming.
Aliyu expressed gratitude to development partners, including the World Bank and the National Fadama Coordination Office, for their continued support.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to providing all necessary resources to farmers to enhance productivity and improve the living conditions of Sokoto’s people.
