Kebbi Gov’t announces free petrol, grains for citizens during Ramadan
Story from Haruna USMAN, Birnin Kebbi
The Kebbi State Government has evolved special programmes in preparation for the 2024 Ramadan fasting by announcing free distribution of foodstuffs and grains to the people.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Shehu Mu’azu, made the announcement at the weekly Ministerial Press Briefing organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture in Birnin Kebbi.
Alhaji Shehu Mu’azu said the gesture was in the spirit of compassion and benevolence of Governor Nasir Idris within the context of the welfarist policy of the present administration.
He said the government has finalised arrangement to supply free petrol to farmers engaged in irrigation farming to lessen the burden of production cost and help them to increase yields.
Enumerating the achievements recorded in the agricultural sector by the present administration under the leadership of Kebbi State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris, (Kauran Gwandu), the Commissioner narrated that the Governor has launched the “Kaura Agricultural Development and Growth Agenda (KADAGE) aimed at improving the production of food and cash crops with emphasis on rice cultivation to strengthen the leading position of Kebbi State as the rice hub of Nigeria.
He informed journalists that the administration has paid counterpart fund to the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Programme (RAAMP) in the sum of three hundred and fifty million naira.
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Under the scheme, 240 kilometres road have been identified for improvement, upgrading and routine maintenance to provide farmers the access to transport farm produce to various destinations.
In addition, thirty thousand farmers in Kebbi State are participating in dry season irrigation farming programme of the Federal Government in rice production, seven thousand, five hundred farmers in maize production, while two thousand farmers are taking part in cassava cultivation.
The Commissioner said the state government would also construct two agro logistics hubs in Argungu town and in Mahuta, Fakai Local Government.
Already, the state government has procured and distributed free fertiliser worth N2.6 billion to farmers, distributed palliative grains of N5.6 billion to all communities, and carried out aerial spray against queala birds destroying rice and millet.
Likewise, distribution is ongoing to farmers for six thousand units of solar powered irrigation pumps, three hundred power tillers, three hundred motorised pump sprayers, while approval has been made for the purchase of ten thousand units of CNG irrigation pumps and ten thousand units of CNG conversion kits to be provided to farmers to facilitate food security.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmad Birnin Kebbi, coordinated the press briefing.
He said the briefing was part of efforts under the Ministry of Information in collaboration with other Ministries to abreast the society of the myriads of achievements recorded by the Kauran Gwandu-led administration in Kebbi State.
