OPINION: Sarkin Shanu Contributing to the Food Security
Alh. Abubakar Muhammad Bello popularly known as Sarkin Shanun Yamaltu is the Gombe State Coordinator of the RIFAN Special Project who has been working on engaging rice farmers.
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Rice farmers are benefiting from the Special Project farm input loan for almost five years in Gombe State under the leadership of Bello.
When we hear the words “local rice farmer”, we might imagine a rural dweller in a straw that is cultivating their crops in a rice paddy. As familiar as this picture might be, the story does not end there.
With a rapidly growing population of over 200 million, coupled with the prevalence of hunger and malnutrition, ramping up local production of dominant staples like rice is crucial for Nigeria to attain food security and lift millions out of poverty.
Alh. Abubakar Muhammad Bello has made a lot of impact in rice farming development and more participation in Gombe State which makes the state top a lot in terms of rice farming in the wet and dry seasons.
Harvest recovery of farm input loan in Gombe State through the RIFAN Special Project is very commendable which has brought a lot of commendation, recognition and awards to Sarkin Shanun Yamaltu for this stride.
In the 2020 dry season output Gombe led with 84,076MT which was the best output among all the states that are participating in the RIFAN Special Project, Bello has distinguished himself with exceptional performance and commitment.
It could be recalled that early this year President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled the Central Bank of Nigeria’s huge rice pyramids in collaboration with the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) in Abuja.
Information obtained from the apex bank’s official website stated that the pyramids, which it described as the largest in the world, were enabled by the CBN’s Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP).
In 2021 wet season output Gombe also lead with 140,144MT which is the best and major contributor to the Abuja Mega Rice Pyramid unveiled in early 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Similarly, President Muhammadu Buhari on March 2021, launched about 13 rice pyramids; housing 200,000 bags of 50 kilogrammes rice, at the National Rice Festival, meant to signal the 2020/2021 dry season cultivation, in Gombe State.
Represented by Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Bagudu, who doubles as the Vice Chairman of the National Food Security Council, Buhari said the event indicates the return of food sufficiency to the country.
The president affirmed that before the end of his administration, the festival would graduate from a regional affair to a local government event.
It could be believed that considering how Gombe State is leading all-season rice output under the able leadership of Alh. Abubakar Muhammad Bello Coordinator RIFAN Special Project Gombe State Chapter, He’s the major contributor to rice farming nationally.
With this, I believe that Alh. Abubakar Muhammad Bello is contributing to the food security of this country which will help the country to maximise its export growth.
Hon. Khalid Ahmed Kumo writes from Gombe.
