The Federal Government, through Rural the Electrification Agency (REA), has supported 320 irrigation farmers with 32 free solar water pumping machines and one electrical solar power at eight farming community locations in Katsina State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the support is
in collaboration with the National Fadama coordination, Abuja.
Flagging off the distribution on Wednesday in Katsina, the
deputy governor of the state, Mannir Yakubu, commended the Federal government’s
gesture.
Yakubu, who is also the state Commissioner for Agriculture
and natural resources, said the gesture is part of an effort to reduce carbon
emissions by the REA.
The Deputy governor was represented at the event by the
Permanent Secretary of the state’s ministry of agriculture, Dr Aminu
Garba-Waziri.
According to the deputy governor, the effort will also
enable the irrigation farmers to enhance their production capacity for
socio-economic well being.
Commending the REA for the gesture, Yakubu restated the
commitment of the state government towards reviving the agricultural sector for
the development of the state.
He further called on the agency to sustain the tempo for the
interest of the general public, especially to complement the government of
President Muhammad Buhari.
According to him, the beneficiaries would be trained on how
to operate the solar-powered pumping machines so that they can benefit from it
for a long time.
In his response, the Northwest Coordinator of the REA, Engr.
Sani Daura, said the distribution of the solar powered water pumping machines
is part of the federal government’s efforts to achieve zero emission.
He explained that Katsina State is the first to benefit from
the gesture among the seven benefitting states in the Northwest zone of the
country.
He explained that Katsina State is the first to launch the
distribution in the north west zone, saying that the distribution of the
equipment shows transparency.
Daura warned that any beneficiary found guilty of selling
the machine would be prosecuted as it contained in the agreement letter signed
between them and the fadama office in the state.
The state’s Fadama project Coordinator, Alhaji Mas’ud Banye,
said the assistance is also to enhance irrigation farming and reduce the
consumption of diesel, petrol.
According to the Coordinator, it will also ensure a
habitable environment and reduced air pollution which he said causes climate
changes.
He explained that 32 Fadama farming communities from Daura,
Mashi, Dutsi, Mai’adua, Kurfi and Zango Local Government Areas (LGAs) were
provided with one free solar electric power and solar water pump machines in
their domains.
Banye further said that there will be constant monitoring of
the beneficiaries to ensure proper utilization of the machines.
One of the beneficiaries, Malam Dauda Alto, thanked the
Federal and State governments for the assistance, and assured of the judicious
use of the machines for the purpose it was given. NAN