The Kebbi Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Abba Sani-Sani, says more than 20,000 small scale farmers in the state’s 21 local government areas would benefit from the Fadama component of the NG-CARES programme.
The NG-CARES, a support programme to states to complement their efforts at ensuring that the COVID-19 crisis were mitigated, saw the Federal Government, along with the World Bank as well as states agreeing to a $750 million support on COVID-19 Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme.
While briefing newsmen shortly after a meeting with the 21 local government chairmen and Gov. Atiku Bagudu, in Birnin Kebbi, on Thursday, the commissioner said that the state would receive a loan of $20 million US dollars to be disbursed to the farmers as grant in the state.
“The state government has completed processes for the take-off of the programme which primarily centred on food security, Fadama farming, access roads, livestock production, fisheries and provision of agricultural inputs.
“Part of the proceeds would be used to construct five kilometres of road in each of the LGAs of the state towards facilitating the movements of farm produce and livestock.
“All the farmers cultivating a variety of crops, including those engaged in livestock production and fisheries were eligible to benefit from the grant,” he said.
Sani- Kalgo also announced that the governor had mandated the ministry and other relevant authorities to work out sustainability strategies for the scheme, after the expiration of the two-year period designed for the programme.
The New Agency of Nigeria reports that the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Hassan Muhammad- Shallah, led the local government chairmen and directors of agriculture for local government councils to the governor.
Muhammad-Shallah, told newsmen that the forum dwelled on agricultural development in all its ramifications under the NG-CARES programme.
“Bagudu had emphasised the consolidation of the successes recorded by the state in agricultural revival by boosting food production, cash crops as well as animal husbandry and fish farming,” the commissioner said.
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