By Uzor Odigbo
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammed Sabo Nanono, has attributed increasing cost of local rice in the markets to many factors worsened by the COVID 19 Pandemic, which is a worldwide phenomenon.
Alhaji Muhammed Sabo Nanono said that the pandemic made transportation of goods and services almost impossible while people resorted to panic buying not to hoard but to safeguard shortage.
The Minister said this in Kano over the weekend in an interactive session with journalists.
He also identifed increasing number of consumers of rice in the country due to the fact that rice is easy to use as a staple food.
The statement also explained that the N13bn allocated to the agriculture ministry was not meant for pest control spray only.
The Minister in the statement said the funds will also be utilised to fight transboundary diseases as the foot and mouth disease affecting cattle, sheep, donkeys, goats.
Alhaji Muhammed Sabo Nanono said the exercise is to be carried out in twelve states which border neighbouring countries as Niger, Chad, Cameroun and Benin Republic