Governor Mohammed Badaru has disclosed that the state government is to distribute another set of 47,544 goats to 15,848 women in June, next year under its Goat Breeding Microfinance Scheme.
Speaking to journalists on the scheme which is part of the State Livestock Interventions programme, the Governor said 8,428 women received 25,284 goats under the scheme this year and that it was the most successful micro-credit scheme in the state, with 92 per cent retention and 79 per cent repayment level.
On crop production, the governor said the newly-introduced reform by his administration had attracted huge investments in the subsector from multinationals with Dangote Group currently building a rice mill in Kaugama with the capacity to produce 280 tones of rice per annum when completed while the Lee Group is investing in 12,000 hectares of sugarcane plantation to feed its 120,000 tones capacity sugar plant in the state and that the investment includes an associated production line of molasses, food seasoning, organic fertilizer and 15 megawatts of electricity generation.
In a related development, the state Government has approved the commencement for the commencement of the second phase of goat Soft Loans Scheme for the four Local Government Areas that excelled in the repayment of the goats soft loan earlier granted on the agreed terms and time.
The Commissioner Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Kabiru Ali told newsmen that the Local Governments that will benefit are those of Hadejia, Sule Tankarkar, Roni, and Taura.
He said under the new arrangement, each ward will receive forty goats against the initial twenty and called on beneficiaries from the other Twenty Three Local Government Areas to emulate their counterparts from other four best Local Governments.
Meanwhile, the Ministry has appealed to home breeders of animals in the State, to report outbreak of any disease to the nearest domestic Vetinary clinic for medical treatment.
According to the Commissioner, this became necessary in view of confirmed reports that diseases such as Foot and a Mouse Disease (BAURU) has appeared in Five Local Government Areas of the State, namely Birniwa, Kafin Hausa, Malam Madori, KiriKasamma and Auyo pointing out that all necessary vetinary medicaments have been provided in all Vetenary clinics in the state.
On his part, the Director in charge of Vetinary services, Doctor Abdullahi Haruna Birniwa, Said the diseases were being contracted by the animals from water ponds while posturing and stressed the need for breeders, village and ward Heads as well as self help groups to mobilize and enlighten their community members in appreciating the dangers involved assuring that his staff were well prepared to handle the situation as may be reported.