By Abdulateeef Bamgbose
Katsina State First Lady, Hajiya Zulaihat Radda has launched moringa farming with a target to empower over 3.6 million women across all local government areas.
The initiative, launched under her Safe Space Humanitarian Initiative, SASHIN, in partnership with the Katsina State Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, will provide women with moringa seedlings and farming resources over a period of ten years.
Hajiya Radda announced that the programme includes performance incentives, with participating women eligible to receive N50,000 after successfully nurturing their trees over a three-month period.
“The initiative aims to achieve monthly production targets of 34 tons of moringa leaves and quarterly production of 50 tons of seeds.
“To ensure sustainability, SASHIN will facilitate partnerships between beneficiaries and both local and international markets for regular purchase of moringa products.”
She also emphasised that comprehensive training and market access support will be provided to all participants.
The launch followed SASHIN’s recent agricultural support programme that provided farming and herbal products to 200 women across Katsina State.
In his address, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Professor Ahmed Mohammed, said “The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development is working closely with SASHIN to ensure the programme’s success in promoting economic empowerment through moringa farming.”
Professor Mohammed explained the programme’s components to include seedling selection, planting, watering, harvesting, sun-drying and packaging of moringa for local and international markets.
Stressing moringa’s suitability for the region, the commissioner said “it is a highly nutritious and versatile crop that thrives in our climate.
“With the unwavering support of the Katsina State government and our development partner, we will ensure that this programme achieves its intended impact.”
He encouraged beneficiaries to take full advantage of this opportunity and contribute to the agricultural transformation of the state.
