Gov Idris, Minister flag off aerial spray against migratory birds
Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Nasir Idris, (Kauran Gwandu) and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari have flagged off aerial spray to control transboundary migratory birds in twelve frontline states.
The states are :Kebbi, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Borno, Kano and Katsina, among others
A statement from the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Yahaya Sarki said,, Idris affirmed at the occasion that his administration has spent billions of naira in revamping agriculture , due to his conviction that food security is a necessity.
According to him, part of the intervention include the purchase of N3.5billion worth of fertilizer that was distributed free to farmers.
He added that the government also purchased assorted grains of over N12billion and distributed free to the people of the state.
Dr Idris further announced that N6.7bilion worth of water pumps and other implements, among others, were procured and distributed free to farmers.
Governor Idris also stated that power tillers worth N1.5billion were purchased and distributed free to farmers across the state.
Comrade Idris explained that he has rolled out his agricultural development agenda tagged, “KADAGE”.
This, he said, was out of his sincere commitment to bring about improved agricultural growth and bolster food security.
Dr. Idris commended the Federal Government for choosing Kebbi State for the flag off of the elimination of quela birds and other pests.
He acknowledged that Kebbi State was strategic to food security in Nigeria, saying,” this gesture will help to achieve results faster and better.”
The Minister of Agriculture, Sen. Abubakar Kyari said that the choice of Kebbi State for the flag off was deliberate sequel to the support and love of the governor to agriculture.
The Minister affirmed that the Federal Government was committed to advancing agriculture to guarantee food security.
He said “This is to make food available, accessible and affordable in Nigeria to gaurantee food security”.
Senator Kyari remarked that Transboundary and migratory pests possessed significant threats to food because of their devastating effect on crops especially cereals, such as rice and wheat causing severe havoc to livelihood of farmers and major threat to food security.
“The prevention and control of agricultural pests are critical in ensuring increased production and bumper harvest.
” Over the years, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has been supporting the frontline states with pesticides and flight hours for the critical control of these agricultural pests to mitigate their devastating effect on crops”, he said.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Shehu Muazu while appreciating the Minister for the visit to Flag off the program, averred that this was the third time he has visited Kebbi State.
This is an indication, he said, for the love for the state and close relationship between the duo.
He commended the governor for providing an enabling environment to attract private investors into Kebbi.
