THE Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido,  said  his government  is investing heavily in agriculture because  over 90 per cent of the stat’ s population are involved in it.

He added “It is common knowledge that agriculture in this part of the country accounts for over 90 per cent of our people’s preoccupation. But it is not only subsistent, it is also human labour-driven in the hi-tech 21st Century. Not only is this condition pitiable, we are also harassed by the protocols of the World Trade Organisation when the Jigawa farmer is put on the same pedestal with his European or American counterpart.

Hunger and poverty

“It was with this in mind and to save the Jigawa farmer from slipping further into perpetual hunger and poverty that we rolled out certain programmes to assist our farmers in terms of rock bottom fertiliser prices, improved and high yielding seeds, subsidised tractor prices and hiring, loans facilities for work bull and appliances, farm extension services, crop fumigation and pests aerial spray, opening of Fadama irrigation in suitable local government areas for our youths and government’s purchase of excess harvest as incentive to grow more,”

Lamido added “When you put a thing like this in place, you trigger economic activities, you think of how to preserve them and get them to the market.  Loans are being given to small scale farmers. “

Lamido disclosed that the Government is ever willing to support any investor in this regard, “Land is our own oil. we are willing to give land to interested investor. Within three months of applying for land you are through with your certificate of occupancy.”