By Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
President Mohammadu Buhari’s agenda to encourage Rice farming and production, has received a boost in Taraba State following the Flagg – off of Rice sales in Jalingo, the state capital.
Federal Government under the leadership of President Mohhamedu Buhari recently entered into partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to provide loan scheme to farmers to go into Rice farming. The efforts was equally motivated to stop rice importation into Nigeria and in turn empowers farmers in the country.
The Taraba State government in responde to this, has flagged-off mass sales of rice cultivated under the scheme.
National President, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, RIFAN, Aminu Goronyo, however commended rice farmers in Taraba State for supporting the Federal Government agenda of promoting rice farming in the country.
“The Boarder closure by President Mohammadu Buhari has brought good news to Nigerians. It is a blessing to Nigerians”
“I want to appreciate stakeholders in the business. I want to tell you Taraba State has all what it takes to feed the country with Rice, we are proud of you”
“Let me use this opportunity to invite Tarabans to come and see the rice pyramid from their state”
” Taraba State has a fertile land for farming”.
” I thank Taraba State Farmers for repaying back their loan through rice production”
According to him, the agenda of President Mohammadu Buhari is to take the country out of dependence on oil to Agriculture.
“Civil Servants, Women, Business people and many others have answered the call of President Mohammadu Buhari by going into rice farming”
He said the boarder closure by President Mohammadu Buhari has started yielded good result
saying that no more China Rice.
He thanked the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Goodwin Emefele for supporting President Mohammadu Buhari’s agenda on Rice farming.
On his part, the state chairman of RIFAN, Tanko Bobo Andeme said the association has gotten good seeds that can withstand all season and ground which leads to bumper harvest from the dry season farming.
“The rice pyramid here is a signed of fertile land in the state. Over 30,000 bags of rice is reliase at the dry season”
He said the association had dialogue with cattle breaders association resulting in good understanding between farmers and herdsmen while farmers are no longer facing threat of pests attacks on their farms.
” More than 30,000 Rice farmers were given soft loan of farming imputs just before the commencement of the dry season activities in the state”
” Reports from farming communities in the state indicated that farmers are carrying out their activities without hindrance which is a good signal to bumper harvest”
In jalingo, Karim – Lamido, Lau, Gassol, Wukari, Donga and Ibi local government areas, hundreds of farmers have embark on Rice production through dry season farming program.
Most farmers have increased their farming activities due to good price of paddy rice and high demand, but decried of high threat of pests and shortage of water as was in the case in the previous years.
One of the farmer told our Correspondent that the Loan of farm imputs granted to dry season farmers by the Federal Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria had attracted more farmers into the business.
Nasarawa Reporters 