Kebbi First Lady Empowers 100 Young Farmers

By Umar Faruk Birnin Kebbi 

In a bid to promote food security and economic prosperity, the Wife of the Kebbi State Governor, Hajiya Zainab Nasare Nasir Idris, has empowered 100 young farmers' clubs with improved seeds, cash, and equipment. This initiative is part of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Agriculture Support Program.

Speaking at the distribution of the items at the Government Girls Comprehensive College, Argungu, Hajiya Zainab Nasare advised the young farmers to remain active participants in agricultural activities. "I urge all of you to sustain farming by growing a variety of crops and fruits for family nourishment and income generation to become self-reliant even after school," she said.

The young farmers' clubs, drawn from five various schools in the state, received improved seeds and seedlings of rice, beans, groundnuts, vegetables, mango, guava, pawpaw, and banana. They were also presented with fertilizer, power tillers, and N20,000 cash each.

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Halima Muhammad Bande, directed Principals to encourage the formation of Young farmers' clubs in their schools. She also warned students to avoid drug addiction and consumption of intoxicants.

Hajiya Hadiza Kola, State Chairman Women in Agriculture, advised the young farmers to prioritize farming and home gardening. "I encourage more students to join Young farmers' clubs, being a pilot scheme, and participate in active agriculture," she said.

A proper monitoring team will be put in place to monitor the outcome of farm produce, and prizes will be given to the best-performing young farmers. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Food Security, Mr. Joel Aiki, explained strategies and methodology for obtaining maximum yields in agricultural production.

The Argungu Local Government Chairman, Alhaji Aliyu Musa, thanked Hajiya Zainab for her kind gesture, reaffirming their support and loyalty to the incumbent administration of Governor Nasir Idris. A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Halima Hassan, donated 30 hectares of land in Yauri to Young farmers' clubs in the Emirate for cultivation.

The beneficiary schools include Government Science College Zuru, Government Girls College Yauri, Command Secondary School Boys Jega, Salamatu Hussaini Government Girls Secondary School Birnin Kebbi, and Government Girls Comprehensive College, Argungu.