Jumoke Olasunkanmi
In a move to boost dry-season farming, the Kebbi state government said it has procured 6,000 solar pumps and power tillers to boost dry-season farming.
The announcement was made by the Media Aide to the state Governor, Ahmed Idris on Saturday where he explained that Governor Nasir Idris had disclosed this during his visit to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, in Abuja on Friday.
Ahmed expressed Kebbi’s commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s dry-season farming initiative. He quoted the governor, stating, “Kebbi is ready to complement the Federal Government’s dry season farming by providing solar-powered boreholes and power tillers for farmers. The state has so far procured 6,000 units of the equipment.”
Governor Idris also extended an invitation to Minister Abubakar Kyari to be the special guest at the launch of the Kaura Agricultural Development and Growth Agenda. The event will also mark the distribution of solar pumps and power tillers to Kebbi farmers. The governor emphasised Kebbi’s dedication to collaborating with the federal ministry to achieve national food security.
In response, Minister Kyari highlighted the collective efforts being taken to enhance food production, reduce inflation, and ensure national food security. He mentioned the initiation of dry-season wheat farming in 15 states in November 2023, aimed at decreasing dependence on rain-fed agriculture and promoting year-round farming.
Despite initial challenges, Kyari acknowledged Kebbi’s role in the National Agricultural Growth Scheme Agro-Pocket project. He commended the state’s efforts in land preparation and tubular irrigation facilitation for wheat cultivation. The minister also acknowledged the support provided by the kebbi government to farmers, including additional fertilisers, inputs, and funds for commodity associations, contributing to the overall growth of agriculture in the state
