Amina Mansur
The Kebbi State Government has put in place measures to increase the number of extension workers in the state from 69 to 1,000 to boost agricultural productivity.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Shehu Mu’azu, disclosed this during the 2024 Weekly ministerial press briefing held in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.
He said, “When the new government came on board, we realised that we had only 69 extension workers in the state.
“We believe that extension workers are key to agricultural growth and development because they are the ones to convey information about new technologies to farmers across the state.
“In view of this, His Excellency, Dr Nasir Idris has stepped up efforts to increase the number of these extension workers from 69 to 1,000 to boost agricultural productivity.”
He added that at the moment, they were able to increase the number to 650, adding that plans were underway to reabsorb retired extension agents towards grooming the younger ones.
He noted with satisfaction that the present administration had ensured the availability of genuine, reliable and quality seeds all season to farmers in the state.
He stated, “ICT and efficient strategies will be deployed to strengthen agricultural service delivery in the state to ensure effective, timely and statewide dissemination of good agricultural, climate-smart information reaches out to farmers.
“Another developmental activity is; Quelea birds control both during the wet and dry seasons of 2023 to prevent the destruction of millet and rice.
“We also procured 6,000 units of solar-powered irrigation pumps which are currently being distributed to farmers across the state.
“We also granted approval for the procurement of 10,000 units of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) for converted irrigation pumps.
“We procured and distributed 300 power tillers and 300 motorised pump sprayers to Farmers’ Cooperative Groups,” he said.
Mu’azu also revealed that 39,500 farmers participated in the Federal Government’s dry season production programme involving 30,000 rice farmers, 7,500 maize farmers and 2,000 cassava farmers across the state.
He assured that the state had also launched Kaura Agricultural Development and Growth Agenda with partnerships at local, national and international levels for agriculture and agrobusiness investments in the state.