At least 200 local farmers from Dutsinma and Matazu Local Government Areas of Katsina State have been trained on modern rice farming techniques, as part of measures to increase food security.
The training was facilitated by a South Korean foundation, SAEMAUL, at the Katsina State Old Government House Banquet Hall, on Monday.
The Director General of the Katsina Investment Promotion Agency, Tukur Jikamshi, said farmers in the state were previously producing 2.5 to 7 tonnes per hectare, adding that with the training, they were producing more than eight tonnes per hectare.
He said in the second phase of the training, 400 farmers alongside 200 extension workers would be trained before the last quarter of the year.
“SAEMAUL Foundation of South Korea is doing a $5 million project in Katsina State for five years.
“The project is designated for two villages in Makera ward, Dutsinma LGA, and surrounding areas, as well as Raddawa ward, Matazu LGA, and its surrounding villages.
“The foundation has done a lot of construction of irrigation facilities such as boreholes, irrigation and drainage facilities in the benefiting areas.
“In Raddawa, they are doing the irrigation facilities on 40 hectares of land and have undertaken several boreholes around the villages and doing 60 hectares at Makera village”, he said.
Jikamshi added that the communities were feeling the impact of the training.
At the training session on Monday, 150 farmers were present with extension workers.
“Before the arrival of this foundation, farmers were producing 2.5 to 7 tonnes per hectare but today, they are doing more than eight tonnes per hectare.
“Therefore, there’s improvement in livelihoods, income generation and health as well as in girl child enrolment in schools as a result of their efforts.
“In the second phase of the training, 400 farmers will be directly trained this year and 200 extension workers”, he said.
A beneficiary from Matazu, Mallam Ahmed, said the training would help to improve farming in the locality.
“This is a good gesture and will improve food security as well”, Ahmed said.
