The Kebbi State government has expressed its dedication to a collaborative effort with the Integrated Rice and Fish Diversification Project (IRFDP) to enhance rice and fish productions in the state.
Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, conveyed this commitment during a courtesy visit by the IRFDP team in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.
Governor Idris emphasized that agriculture is among the top priorities of his administration and assured the IRFDP team of the state government’s readiness to support the partnership and boost agricultural production in the state.
The Governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Bala Tafida Yauri, encouraged the team to extend their programs to cover all the 21 local governments in the state.
Speaking earlier, Prof. Emmanuel Ajayi, the Team Leader, shared that the IRFDP project commenced in 2020, focusing on diversifying agriculture, particularly rice and fish farming.
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The project is supported by USAID in collaboration with the University of Ibadan, Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto, and other partners, with the aim of integrating fish with rice production.
Ajayi highlighted that Kebbi State was chosen as a leading state in rice and fish production in the country, followed by Ebonyi state.
The project aims to improve food security in Nigeria, and stakeholders in Kebbi State have already received training on rice and fish farming diversification using advanced technology.
The Team Leader sought the state government’s support and cooperation in achieving the project’s objectives.
In attendance at the meeting were the Head of Service, Alhaji Sufiyanu Garba Bena, Permanent Secretaries, Cabinet and Political Affairs, Ministry of Animal Health Husbandry and Fisheries, Directors of the Ministry, and the Special Adviser on Political and Power, among others.
The collaboration between Kebbi State and the IRFDP holds the promise of enhancing agricultural productivity and contributing to improved food security in the state and the country as a whole.
