By Fatima Saka
The Federal Government, through Rural Electrification Agency (REA), has empowered 320 irrigation farmers with 32 free solar water pumping machines and one electrical solar power at eight farming community locations in Katsina State.
Flagging off was done on Wednesday in Katsina,as the deputy governor of the state, Mannir Yakubu, commended the Federal government.
Yakubu, who is also the state Commissioner for Agriculture and natural resources, said the gesture is part of an effort to reduce carbon emissions by the REA.
The Deputy governor was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary of the state’s ministry of agriculture, Dr Aminu Garba-Waziri.
According to the deputy governor, the effort will also enable the irrigation farmers to enhance their production capacity for socio-economic well being.
Commending the REA for the gesture, Yakubu restated the commitment of the state government towards reviving the agricultural sector for the development of the state.
He further called on the agency to sustain the tempo for the interest of the general public, especially to complement the government of President Muhammad Buhari.
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According to him, the beneficiaries would be trained on how to operate the solar-powered pumping machines so that they can benefit from it for a long time.
In his response, the Northwest Coordinator of the REA, Engr. Sani Daura, said the distribution of the solar powered water pumping machines is part of the federal government’s efforts to achieve zero emission.
He explained that Katsina State is the first to benefit from the gesture among the seven benefitting states in the Northwest zone of the country.
He explained that Katsina State is the first to launch the distribution in the north west zone, saying that the distribution of the equipment shows transparency.
Daura warned that any beneficiary found guilty of selling the machine would be prosecuted as it contained in the agreement letter signed between them and the fadama office in the state.
The state’s Fadama project Coordinator, Alhaji Mas’ud Banye, said the assistance is also to enhance irrigation farming and reduce the consumption of diesel, petrol.
According to the Coordinator, it will also ensure a habitable environment and reduced air pollution which he said causes climate changes.
He explained that 32 Fadama farming communities from Daura, Mashi, Dutsi, Mai’adua, Kurfi and Zango Local Government Areas (LGAs) were provided with one free solar electric power and solar water pump machines in their domains.
Banye further said that there will be constant monitoring of the beneficiaries to ensure proper utilization of the machines.
