By Abdallah el-Kurebe
Governor Aliyu Wamakko has said that in addition to the N8 million agricultural loan disbursed to farmers in the past seven years, the state government will soon to provide N2 billion of such loan.
He disclosed this in Rimawa, Goronyo local government of the state on Thursday when Rivers Governor, Rotimi Amaechi inaugurated an Agricultural Skills Acquisition Centre during a two-day official visit to the state.
Wamakko added that the State government also procured assorted fertilizers during the same period under review worth N10 billion. “The state government had distributed over 500 Tractors to the farmers as loans,” he added.
He also said that the centre was constructed in tune with modern-day requirements.
“This is to empower the youths to be more productive and contribute to the socioeconomic development of the state and Nigeria in general. This is to modernize agriculture for Nigeria to produce more food for domestic consumption and export,” Wamakko stressed.
Commissioner for Local Governments and Rural Development, Alhaji Faruk Malami said that the centre, which trains over 450 apprentices per day in animal husbandry, poultry, forestry, fisheries and horticulture, among others, is intended to make Sokoto state a role model in agricultural sector.
“At the moment over 250 people are receiving training at the centre with 28 facilitators and instructors on different skills,” he said.
