Kebbi State Government has increased the number of its extension workers from 60 to 1000 to promote agricultural development in the state.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Shehu Mu’azu disclosed this at the 2024 Weekly Ministerial Press Briefing organised by the State Ministry of Information and Culture on Monday.
According to him, “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.
“Given this, His Excellency, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris has stepped up efforts to increase the number of these extension workers from 60 to 1,000 to boost agricultural productivity which is one of the core programmes of the current government,” he said.
He said further that, at the moment, they were able to increase the number to 650, adding that plans were underway to reabsorbed retired extension agents towards grooming the younger ones.
The commissioner said: “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 to farmers.
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Alhaji Mu’azu also noted with satisfaction that the present administration under the able leadership of Comrade Nasiru Idris had ensured the availability of genuine, reliable and quality seeds all season to farmers in the state.
Another developmental activities according to him is Quelea birds control both during the wet and dry seasons of 2023 to prevent destruction of millet and rice adding that the government procured 6,000 units of solar powered irrigation pumps and 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, procured and distributed 300 power tillers and 300 motorised pump sprayers to Farmers’ Cooperative Groups.”
He 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.
The commissioner said that the state has also launched ‘Kaura Agricultural Development and Growth Agenda (KADAGE) with partnerships at local, national and international levels for agriculture and agro business investments in the state.
TheWitness
