From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi
Following the on-going reformed on Agriculture by the Governor Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi State, yesterday the has assured the Federal Government that Kebbi state will carefully study the possibility of producing wheat alongside the production of rice in the state.
The Governor gave the assurance when a delegation from Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, led by Professor Mohammed Magaji, visited the Governor to seek for the cooperation and support of Kebbi Government to influence the farmers in the state to embark on the production of wheat just like they have been producing rice in the state.
Dakingari said that for as long as the farmers in the state were keen in producing wheat, they will be supported to do so but however warned that if such production will not derail the farmers from producing rice in the state and thanked the farmers for showing interest in wheat production, saying, “We have been producing rice for the last 3 years; we don’t want to derail, but now I have been assured that as from November to February, wheat can be produced and at the same time, from February to April, dry season rice can be produced. Now we can sit down and plan how we can produce both rice and wheat’’ he said.
The Director, Agric Services in the ministry, Professor Mohammed Magaji, shortly after showing the governor the wheat seeds brought to the state in Argungu, told newsmen that the requirement of wheat in terms of production is the same with rice but that the only challenge was the issue of market.
