Agriculture mainstay of Katsina economy – Gov Masari

Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari said yesterday that the state economic mainstay had always been agriculture.
Governor Masari was speaking when he received the minister of agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe who paid him courtesy call at Government House, Katsina.
Governor Masari recalled that prominent sons and daughters of Katsina province, including president Muhammad Buhari were educated with proceeds of monies realized from agricultural production by the then Native Authority.
He observed that agricultural production could uplift the status of acountry where no other product could do so in the ever growing competitive global environment.
Governor Masari also remarked that modern agricultural productioncould not be successful without education, which he said was why the APC administration placed emphasis on restoring the lost glory of both education and agriculture in the state.
Right now, he said the APC administration in the state had started developing an economic zone that would be driven by processing of agricultural produce as a means of restoring the economy of people of the state.
On conflict and crisis bedeviling the agricultural sub sector of the economy, Governor Masari explained that the elites caused the furore to hide their past failures.
He expressed optimism that the APC administration led by President Muhammad Buhari would overcome and place Nigeria on pedestal of agricultural revolution to move that nation forward.
Earlier, the Minister of agriculture, Chief Ogbe told Governor Masari that he was in Katsina as part of tour to six states implementing IFAD agricultural programmes in the country.
Chief Audu Ogbe said the visit would enable him to flag off and commission some of the IFAD agricultural programmes in Katsina state.
Such programmes, he said, include rehabilitation of rural feeder roads, expanding the production of grains by local farmers, seeking to find solution of Farmers-Fulani clashes, increase the production of animal feeds, and planting of grasses as pod ah for animals among others.
On cattle production, Chief Ogbe announced that a recent survey had shown that rearing of animals accounted for 6% of Gross Domestic Products – GDP) of Nigeria, which must not be toyed with by any serious government.
The Minister revealed that 590 km of roads to be done by IFAD in Katsina state adding that the tree planting aspect of the programme would be persuaded to reduce the menace of the advancing desert.
In addition, he said the ability of local farmers to feed Nigerians with home grown rice would continue to receive the APC administration’s attention and encouragement.
He hoped late state government would support the production of Accah cereal as it is now in high demand by the Japanese government.
He added that goat meat is in high demand.