FG distributes cotton bags, seeds in Zamfara

[The InfoStrides]

The Nigerian Government has distributed cotton bags and 763.26 metric tonnes of cotton seeds to farmers in Zamfara State through the ginneries, nacotan and cotton agencies in the State.

This was made known by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwumi Adesina at a one - day training on modern cotton farming practice organized by the Association of Ginneries (NACOTAN) in Gusau on Thursday October 31, 2013.

The Minister who was represented by the Director of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in Zamfara State, Musa Raji stated that the federal government's investment in the cotton value chain is anticipated to create about one million jobs and contribute over 25 billion naira to the national economy. He explained that the annual business revenue stimulated by cotton in the Nigerian economy is in excess of one hundred billion naira, thereby making cotton to become Nigeria's number one value-added crop.

Akinwumi Adesina added that due to the huge wealth and job creation potentials of cotton, the cotton transformation programme plans to multiply the production of cotton seed from three hundred tonnes to six hundred thousand tonnes and lint from one hundred and ten thousand tonnes to two hundred and twenty thousand tones.  He also pointed out that this will be achieved by increasing the acreage of land under cultivation and consequently increasing the production of certified seeds.

In a welcome address, the State Chairman of Ginners Association, Sani Dahiru said that the training was organized in order to instruct cotton farmers on modern ways of achieving qualitative production. He requested for more support as well as the intervention of the federal and state governments to boost cotton farming in the country.

Kuchinda from the Institute of Agriculture, Samaru Zaria presented a paper on modern cotton farming practice and measures to ensure quality cotton production and cotton farmers from Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara State were present at the occasion.