From El-Yakub Dabai, Birnin Kebbi
Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has stepped up practical measures aimed at protecting farming and sustaining food production by distributing free of 20, 000 CNG and 12,000 solar powered irrigation pumps at a ceremony in Suru town, the hub of rice production in the state.
Governor Idrisl performed the distribution of the pumps while launching his Agricultural pet project, Kaua Agricultural Development and Growth Agenda, KADAGA, also commissioned the distribution of power tillers to facilitate land cultivation.
He said the power tillers, solar and CNG power pumps were purchased to make sure farmers did not leave farming, revealing that some petrol stations would be designated to sell fuel to irrigation farmers at subsidised price
While calling on traditional leaders to call on their people to embrace farming, he warned officials responsible for the distribution of the implements against diversion, stressing that offenders would be arrested and prosecuted.
Also speaking the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari assured farmers that Federal Government would continue to support them because farming was a source of gainful emplorment, poverty alleviation and the fight against hunger.
He assured continued support to access agro allied products that would key into the Federal Government agenda which declared state of emergency in agricultural production.
In his remarks the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Shehu Mua’azu said the project was designed to modernise farming system towards improved yield as well as ensuring farmers income and economic status got better.
