No fewer than 200 local farmers from Dutsinma and Matazu local government areas in Katsina State have completed a comprehensive rice farming training program aimed at boosting productivity.

The training, held at the Katsina Old Government House Banquet Hall, was facilitated by the SAEMAUL Foundation of South Korea as part of a five-year, $5 million project.

The Director General of the Katsina Investment Promotion Agency, Alhaji Tukur Jikamshi, explained that the training has already led to significant results.

“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 enrollment in the area 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.

The project also includes the construction of irrigation facilities and boreholes in the targeted areas.

“In Raddawa, they are doing the irrigation facilities on 40 hectares of land and have undertaken several boreholes around the villages and they are doing 60 hectares at Makera village,” he said.

He stressed the foundation’s impact on improving livelihoods, income generation, health, and even girl-child enrollment in the area.

Jikamshi further revealed that the second phase of the program will train 400 more farmers and 200 extension workers by the end of the year, further expanding the benefits of the initiative.