By Abdulmumin Giwa
The Kano state government, under the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project, (KSADP) has flagged-off the distribution of agricultural machines to small holder farmers across Kano state.
The distribution is implemented by the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) and funded by the Kano state government, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Lives and Livelihood Funds (LLF).
Beneficiaries, made up of small holder farmers, are receiving a total of 98 tractors, with ten earlier commissioned at the mechanization center. The tractors all have their trailers, harrows and ploughts all to be distributed.
There are also 160 corn based trashers, 150 rice trashers and 150 multi-trashers given to farmers from various farmers association in the state.
Beneficiaries will also receive 1,900 units of solar powered pumps for which it is expected that a total of 3500 unit would have been distributed at the end of the project in December when added to the ones distributed earlier.
More so, 19 modular rice milling machines are to be distributed to farmer groups across the various clusters. This machine peals, polishes, destones and separates rice for packaging.
Delivering his speech at the flag-off ceremony, the state project coordinator of the KSADP/SAA in Kano, Abdurarshid Hamisu Kofarmata, warned the recipients against selling any of the implementa given to them.
“These implements are given to you free and you are expected to put them to use to improve and mechanise your farming.
“They are not to be sold, we expect every beneficiary to use what he was given judiciously as we are going to follow up to ensure maintenance.” He stated.