No fewer than 5,000 extension workers are currently engaged by the Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA) under the Federal Government’s N-power programme.

The Managing Director of KNARDA, Prof. Mahmud Daneji stated this when he received the Country Director, Sasakawa Global 2000, Prof. Sani Ahmed-Miko who paid him a courtesy visit in Kano on Tuesday.

“We have more than 5,000 front line extension workers under the Federal Government’s N-power programme working across the 44 Local Government Areas of the state,” he said.

He said the agency had concluded arrangement to design a programme that would improve the capacity of the extension staff to enable them provide the necessary support to farmers especially in rural areas.

He said the extension workers have been able to provide the necessary advice to the farmers on modern farming techniques for improved agricultural production in the state.

He said the state government had procured 3,000 water pumps for distribution to irrigation farmers in the state as part of efforts aimed at improving irrigation activities in the state.

He said the water pumps operate manually without fuel, adding that the machines would be recommended for use by local farmers in state.

On fertilizer, the Managing Director commended the Federal Government for introducing the Presidential Initiative on Fertiliser, saying the initiative had greatly reduced monopoly of the middlemen.

“The release of N500 million for reactivation of the state Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO) has also reduced the hardship experienced by farmers in getting the commodity.

He commended the Sasakawa Global 2000 for initiating the media field tour which was designed to publicise the activities of the organisation.

In his remarks, Ahmed-Miko said the organisation had planned to develop a model to better the lot of local farmers in the country.

He said: “As soon as our strategic plan is approved, we will share with you the document”.