"Kebbi Supports 16,000 Flood-Hit Farmers with Crop Initiative"

By Umar Faruk Birnin Kebbi 

The Kebbi State Government has launched an initiative to support 16,000 farmers affected by last year's devastating floods. The 'Residual Moisture Crop Production' scheme, an initiative of Governor Nasir Idris, aims to help farmers recover and continue their normal lives.

Under this scheme, the state government has provided improved potatoes, cassava, and maize seeds, fertilizers, and chemicals free of charge to the affected farmers. The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Shehu Ma'azu, expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the farmers during a tour of the cultivated farmlands in different local government areas of the state.

Ma'azu stated, "We are happy that you used the seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs supplied to you very well. Today, we are here to inspect what you have done and report back to the governor what we saw. Glory be to God Almighty, you people have recovered, and the seeds supplied to you were fantastic."

The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed-BK, emphasized the importance of food production, saying, "Everybody's concern today is about what to eat, indicating that food is critical to human existence." He encouraged the farmers to sustain their farming business, saying, "Farm is wealth."

The farmers, who received the support, expressed their gratitude to the state government and Governor Idris. Alhaji Abubakar Walin-Raha, representing the District Head of Raha, appreciated the governor's foresight, saying, "We are very happy that these seeds are extremely good, we used them, and we saw how effective they are."

Other farmers, including Malam Abubakar Mai-Kifi and Malam Musa Mai-Dala'ilu, also expressed their appreciation for the support, saying it had motivated many to embrace farming. Alhaji Muhammad Sani, the Marafan Mayalo, thanked the governor for the initiative and the reconstruction of a bridge that collapsed during the rainy season.

The Kebbi State Government's support for farmers is part of its efforts to boost food production and empower farmers in the state. The state government has also been working to address the impact of flooding on farming communities, which has been a significant challenge in recent years.