Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has disbursed cash grants, farm implements and inputs worth over N1.719 billion to 148,000 most vulnerable and poor families in the state.  A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed said the funds and farm implements were disbursed under the second tranche of the Katsina State COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme.    
Among the farm implements disbursed by the governor include, ruminant goats, power tiller, groundnut oil extraction machines, breeds of chickens and fish among others.     
Governor Radda who launched the programme at the Local Government Service Commission in Katsina Metropolis said among the 148,000 men and women who benefitted from the scheme,  6,100  were selected from 20 local government areas, with each  getting 50,000 Naira.    
According to Governor Radda, 43 village areas from across the 34 local government areas of the state would receive 12 million Naira each as grants for the execution of community development projects.     
He said the projects would include water supply,  renovation of schools and healthcare centers, depending on their needs.    
Governor Radda added that  1,170 farmers were selected to receive farm inputs and implements worth 142 million naira. This he said was in addition to another set of 12,250 farmers  also selected to receive goats, spices of fish and some implements worth over 763 million naira to boost their income.      
Governor Dikko Radda said  the government has recently approved another 500 million naira to support the implementation of its programme in the state.    
He explained that, another 145 million naira was also approved by his administration for the Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) towards implementation of the livelihood and support to eight local governments not captured among some of the beneficiaries of the  “KT CARES programme.”   
Governor Dikko Umaru Radda urged the managers of the programme to ensure its successful implementation. emphasizing that,  his determination to ensure government support reached the rural communities who constitute about 80 per cent of the electorates in the state   
Earlier in an address of welcome, the Chairman Steering Committee who is also the state Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Bello Kagara appreciated the firm commitment of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda for driving the economy of the state.     
According to him, the setback recorded by the programme in the past and the support of the Governor made it possible for achieving the success so far recorded.    On his part, the National Coordinator of the NG-Care programme who spoke through the State Coordinator, Alhaji Shuaibu Aliyu, lauded Governor Dikko Radda for his giant steps in kicking poverty out of the boundaries of the state through implementing the disbursement of NG CARE  programmes. 
    Professor of Agricultural Geography, Professor Ibrahim Yusuf El Ladan spoke at length on guidelines on safe and sustainable utilization of the grants and assets under the NG-CARE.

Culled from New Nigerian Newspapers