Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina says the state government has concluded plans to establish a rice and wheat mill to boost food production. Masari stated this on Saturday in Kaduna while marking the Katsina state special day at the 38th Kaduna International Trade fair.

Masari, who was represented by the state Commissioner, Ministry of Commerce and Tourism Alhaji Abubakar Yusuf, said: “our government will also upgrade the sugarcane factory to boost sugar production for both domestic and foreign consumption.

“The state government would continue to support farmers to enhance agricultural activities, livestock production and planting of economic trees such as Gum, Shea Nut, locust beans and Moringa.”

He said the state had created conducive environment for investors in the Agriculture, solid minerals, power, energy and property development, and hospitality and creative arts sectors.

“The economy of the state is basically agrarian in nature with a cultivable land of 2.4 million hectares out of which 1.6 million is under cultivation, leaving land area of 800,000 hectares, equivalent to one third of the total cultivable land available for investment.”

Masari said that the state also had over 61 water bodies suitable for irrigation farming. According to him the state was the major producer of cotton and the second largest producer of sorghum, sugar cane.

“Other crops produced in commercial quantity include maize, millet, cowpeas, soya beans, sesame seed, groundnut, tomatoes and rice.”

NAN reports that the 38th Kaduna international trade fair with the theme: ‘Promoting Public Private partnership as a panacea for accelerated growth and development’ ends on Sunday. (NAN)

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