By Umar Faruk, Birnin Kebbi
The Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari and Gov. Nasir Idris has launched Kaura Agricultural Development and Growth Agenda (KADAGE) in Suru Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
At the program, solar powered water pumps and power tillers were distributed to farmers under the Kaura Agricultural Development and Growth Agenda (KADAGE)
According to the Minister, President Bola Tinubu, was committed to improving agriculture and attaining food security in the country inline with Tinubu’s 8- points Agenda.
“President Tinubu has made food security number one item in his 8-points agenda through improvement of agricultural production in the country.
“All programmes on the agenda are connected to agriculture, such as wealth creation and poverty eradication and to boost economy.
” The President is concerned about the capacity of farmers to acquire agricultural inputs and has now begun a process to accelerate access to such inputs by farmers, ” he said.
Senator Kyari, informed the gathering that Gov. Nasir Idris was at his ministry in Abuja to discuss ways of improving agricultural production in the state.
“Through Gov. Idris’ actions, he has ‘walked the talk’ by procuring and distributing of 6,000 solar powered water pumps and other inputs to boost irrigation farming in the state,” he said.
The minister observed that year-round farming would boost crop cultivation, increase job opportunities, reduce poverty, de-escalate food inflation and enhance inclusivity.
“These are goals highlighted in President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Kebbi is one of the states chosen for dry season farming,” he said.
He commended the governor for his supportive intervention in line with the call of President Tinubu for collaboration between the Federal and state Governments to ensure availability of agricultural inputs to farmers to accelerate the attainment of food security.
While distributing the farm inputs, Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, said that his administration would distribute 12,000 solar powered water pumps, commencing with the 6,000 distributed to farmers for them to increase yields.
“The state government will purchase 20,000 units of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered water pumps as a back- up to the solar pumps to increase the number of benefiting farmers in the state,” he said.
Dr. Nasir warned the beneficiaries not to sell the items, saying that the government would take punitive action against any body found trading off the pumps.
“I swear by God, any official involve in the distribution of the items found to have engaged on diversion, will be arrested and prosecuted.
” I directed all heads of security agencies including vigilante groups to monitor the distribution of the items and take necessary action on violators ,” he warned.
He also averred that his immediate predecessor, Sen. Atiku Bagudu, had done his best to put the state on the map of the world as the leading rice producer in the country.
The governor assured that he would consolidate on the achievement and improve production of the crop.
