Mu’azu Shehu

Kebbi State Government has distributed N2.4 billion agricultural inputs to 7,900 farmers under its KB-CARES Fadama Result Area 2 programme assisted by World Bank.

Alhaji Maigari Dakingari, the state Commissioner of Agriculture and Solid Minerals, made the disclosure at the flag- off ceremony for the disbursement of inputs to beneficiaries of the programme in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.

He said,” This is NG- CARES programme and is a two- year COVID-19 stimulus package.

According to Dakingari, the distribution of inputs to 7,900 small -holder farmers is aimed at supporting them with improved varieties of seeds, insecticides and fertiliser in order to ameliorate the effect of COVID -19.

“We are sure that the move will also raise the living standard of farmers for them to go back to farming activities.”

Dakingari explained that the programme encompassed the construction of feeder roads for free flow of goods and services to major towns from the rural areas.

“We are doing all these free to farmers as morale booster for them to have sense of relief and energy to go back to farming activities sequel to the pandemic which enforced farming challenges,” he said.

The commissioner thanked the state Gov. Atiku Bagudu, for his untiring efforts and commitment in the agricultural development of the state.

In his remarks, Bagudu, said the state government had also injected N1 billion for the successful coverage of KB- CARES, apart from the N900 million grant received from the World Bank.

Bagudu, represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Abba Sani-Kalgo, said that Fadama would implement result area three focusing on increase of food security and food supply chain to households.

“This is to mitigate effects of the COVID-19 and facilitate food supply chains in particular, under this result area.

The enforcement and advocator will be addressed for the youths in the state and the society.

“The result area 2.2 is for the rehabilitation of the structures across the 21 local government areas with 5.1 kilometers roads to farms.

“The result area 2.3 is for distribution of agricultural infrastructure for the process. This will involved thriller, which will be distributed by Kebbi state government.

“The result area 2.4 is for the rehabilitation of 78 markets across the state.

“At this juncture, I am happy to announce that, my government, in addition to the N900 million received from the World Bank as grant, has injected N1 billion for the successful of CARES programmes.

“This is in order to ensure wide coverage of the programmes,” Bagudu said.

The governor urged the beneficiaries to judiciously make use of the gesture under the Fadama component of the programme for fruitful farming season.