Sokoto will prioritise mechanised agriculture in order to revive the sector and make it meet the current and growing demands of the people of the state, Governor Aminu Tambuwal has said.
According to him, government will provide initial incentives to top political office holders and individual businessmen to own and operate large scale farms as a pilot scheme for the proper take-off of the planned mechanised farmlands.
Speaking on Sunday when he received the report of the committee set up to revive agriculture in the state, Tambuwal said the new policy will capture the need of small and large scale farmers.
He said it becomes imperative for the government to consider this option so as to boost revenue and food security.
To ensure effective implementation of the report, Tambuwal said experts from the World Food Programme, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and related agencies will be invited to make inputs.
He said any corporate organisation wishing to engage in commercial agriculture is welcome to Sokoto to invest as government will provide enabling environment for a positive return on investment.
In his remarks, chairman of the committee and former deputy governor in the state, Alhaji Chiso Dattijo, said the committee was set up by the state government in order to map out strategies in revitalizing agriculture in the state.
He commended Tambuwal for giving them opportunity to serve.