Kaduna — Following the planned revival of textile industries in Nigeria, the Kaduna State government has been asked to encourage cotton farming to boost the supply of raw materials for the textile industry.

The Zazzau Emirate Youth Democratic Forum (ZEYDF) who gave the challenge in Kaduna noted that with government intervention in cotton farming, textile industries would have adequate supply of raw materials when revived to allow continued production of textile materials.

Addressing newsmen in Kaduna, ZEYDF Chairman, Malam Abdulkadir Muhammad Bello commended the state government on the distribution of 69 tonnes of fertiliser to farmers associations, cooperative organisations and maize farmers associations for the coming farming season, but noted that improved production of cotton was necessary for the full resuscitation of the textile industry.

"We commend the Kaduna State government's efforts in the distribution of 69 tonnes of fertiliser at subsidised rates to farmers, local governments and cooperative organisations in the state in anticipation of next farming season; this will go a long way in improving the yield and production of food for the coming season.

"But there is need for more efforts by the government in the area of cotton farming in order to boost its production. Governor Namadi Sambo has taken several steps towards resuscitation of the moribund textile industry but there is need for raw materials for the industries to feed on", the forum said.

The forum also commended the release of 20, 000 bags of maize by the state government from the state's grain reserve to farmers and the poor at subsidised rate as parts of efforts to alleviate the food scarcity faced by the people of the state.

It noted that the sales made to the poor and farmers in preparation for the farming season by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Ahmed Samaila Yakawada would go a long way in alleviating the sufferings of the people and work towards having an improved bumper harvest for the coming season.