Kano state and the Bank of Agriculture, have consented to sign a N2 billion Memorandum of Understanding for the development of agriculture, through supporting farmers’ cooperative societies in the state. Under the agreement, each of the two parties involved would make available a counterpart fund of N1 billion.
The state governor, Rabi’u Kwankwaso hinted this during the presentation of registration certificates to 1000 women farmers’ cooperative societies and launch of replacement of stock to 200 beneficiaries of small holder poultry at the Government House in Kano.
The governor, who was responding to an offer for partnership in supporting farmers by the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, directed the state Ministries of Agriculture and Commerce to work with the bank towards drawing up modalities for actualisation of the joint venture.
He stated that so far, over 450,000 farmers have been registered in the state, and are now benefitting from various value enhancement supports of the government, adding that the government decided to facilitate cooperative societies for them, to ensure sustainability of the support given to them and to enhance their entrepreneurial capacities.
On the small holder poultry programme for women, Governor Kwankwaso explained that although the programme under which 2,800 have befitted is largely successful, some of them lost their chicks due to unforeseen actors, as a result of which the government arranged replacement for them to encourage them to continue with the scheme.
The governor was happy that as at now, over 620, 000 families have benefitted from government’s empowerment programmes, which by extension would impact on the lives of an estimated 3 million people, assuring that the administration would continue to implement purposeful programmes for the citizenry.
In his remarks, the Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture, Dr. Muhammad Santuraki promised that his bank was willing to make available N1 billion counterpart fund to support farmers’ cooperative groups in the state.
He maintained that the bank was specifically interested in helping the government to empower women and to enhance specific value chains in agriculture, especially rice and vegetables.
On his part, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, represented by a director in the Ministry, Mr. M. Yamel restated determination of the Federal government to support state government in its agricultural development efforts so as to alleviate poverty, create jobs and enhance economic development.
