Senator Katung's Farming Initiative Transforms Lives in Kaura

By Abubakar Labaran

Beneficiaries of Senator Sunday Marshall Katung's dry season farming intervention program in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State have expressed joy after harvesting their tomato and pepper crops. One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Jonathan Luka, recounted how, just a few months ago, he had almost given up on dry season farming due to a lack of resources.

He explained that before receiving a water pumping machine, he used to harvest between 10 and 15 baskets of tomatoes during the dry season. However, with the intervention, he has already harvested more than 50 baskets—and counting.

"I used to depend only on the rainy season to farm, which meant long months of waiting with little to feed my children. Now, I have planted tomatoes and sugarcane, and I am expecting a good harvest. This means more food for my family and extra income to send my children to school," he said.

He thanked Senator Sunday Marshall Katung for providing him and many other farmers with water pumps, enabling them to expand their farms and increase their yields.

Similarly, Mr. Nathan Thomas Yashim, another beneficiary of the program, said that over the past four months, he has consistently harvested between 10 to 12 bags of pepper weekly as a result of the intervention. In addition to his pepper harvest, he also produced over 150 bags of sweet potatoes, a significant boost compared to previous years.

"Before now, we had to buy vegetables from neighboring states during the dry season at high prices. But now, we are growing them right here and even selling to other communities," Yashim stated.

He urged other youths to take advantage of dry season farming, emphasizing its profitability and potential to boost the socio-economic growth of the area.

Senator Katung Commends Farmers, Pledges More Support

Speaking to newsmen after inspecting some farms in Kaura Local Government Area, Senator Sunday Marshall Katung expressed joy that the beneficiaries were effectively utilizing the farming equipment to improve their agricultural output.

He explained that the program, designed to enhance food production and economic stability, has not only revitalized individual farms but has also breathed new life into entire communities in Kaura.

The Senator further pledged to extend the initiative to more communities within his constituency, stating that the impact of the program would go beyond farming to create a pathway to self-reliance and food security in the region.

Recall that Senator Katung had distributed water pumping machines to irrigation farmers in the local government in November 2024.