By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Two tractors for two Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and 58 power tillers for 58 cooperatives were on Tuesday February presented to ginger Farmers in the Southern Senatorial Zone of Kaduna State by the World Bank Assisted Agro-Processing, Agricultural Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Project.
At the presentation, the APPEALS Kadunà State Programme Officer, Dr. Yahaya Aminu while delivering his welcome address, explained that the 58 benefitting cooperatives in the latest presentation, have over 800 members, who are all small scale ginger farmers, while the tractors were presented to large scale farmers that cultivate over 40 hectares of land.
He said the Kaduna State Government is committed to ensuring that farming is big business, not just for those who venture into it to while away time.
The presentations were done at a Stakeholders Engagement Forum For Beneficiaries In Ginger Valuechain, held at the Kachia Local Government Secretariat.
Zakariah Fakachi Director Veterinary Services Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development who represented the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, said that the origin of ginger is India, but Nigeria and Kaduna State is producing the best ginger in the world.
“This project has come to improve the way we produce,” he said.
He explained that Kaduna State has come up with an agricultural policy that makes ginger a priority in the valuechain.
In a goodwill message, the Secretary of Kachia LGA, Mr. Augustine Adamu said that on behalf of the chairman, they thank the Kaduna State Government, APPEALS and World Bank for the project.
A traditional ruler, Alhaji Sabiu Suleiman, District Head of Kachia thanked APPEALS for the support.
He also thanked the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai for his constant development in Kachia LGA.
He said that he is impressed by the intervention from APPEALS.
“To say this is given for free to the farmers, is a bold step. We have never witnessed such.
“If God spares us, this input will bring about surprising changes.
“Beneficiaries should put the input into judicious use and ensure proper care,” he charged.
A beneficiary, Mrs Martha Fidelis speaking on behalf of beneficiaries, thanked the government and APPEALS for the provision of the farm input.
“My name is Martha from the cooperative, ‘Women of Faith’ and we are excited and we are adding value to the ginger we farm, by turning it into “Ginger Milo”. She said.
Another beneficiary, Dauda Yakubu from Kaninkon Cluster said that for long they have been expecting such interventions through cooperatives they formed, but their hopes were dashed until APPEALS came around and put smiles on their faces..
He also thanked the government for the support.
Yakubu said that the ginger they are farming will increase because of the machinery APPEALS is providing for them
He prayed for God to bless those that made the intervention possible.
“In every disability, there is ability, even as a visually impaired, I took up the challenge and my efforts are paying off.
“”Through ginger farming, I was able to sponsor myself up to University of Jos,” he informed.
Our correspondent gathered that a total 1,929 beneficiaries in Southern Kaduna Senatorial Zone are benefiting from the APPEALS Project.
It was also gathered that the beneficiaries of the power tillers and tractors would be given capacity building training on their proper usage and maintenance.
