The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Oyo state chapter, has stressed the need for the Federal Government to sustain and make effective, policy banning importation of rice

The Association’s Chairman, Mr Victor Korede, made this known on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan.

Korede also said farmers needed favourable, progressive and consistent government policy in order to encourage mass production of rice and other produce, for food sufficiency and boost revenue.

He said building and acquisition of integrated rice of world class should be encouraged; adding that commercial production of rice should be made effective.

Korede said government could achieve this by encouraging local farmers to go beyond subsistence cultivation.

“In the South, government should assist in land clearing challenges facing farmers, irrigation system should be boosted in the region to encourage dry season farming as in Northern part,” he said.

He disclosed that no fewer than 300 tonnes of rice were produced yearly by the farmers in the state and sold, adding that some of the farmers operated micro rice mills.

“Efforts are on to raise our production standard; some of our members are engaged in Dangote rice production scheme, we are engaged as out-growers. Dangote supplies inputs and we plant and sell to him.

“We are also part of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) anchor borrower scheme and are expecting delivery of inputs for dry season farming while preparation for the wet season is in earnest.

“We are working earnestly to establish relationship with research institutes for capacity building as well as enjoy benefits of research.

“Having discovered that the 28 agrarian local government lands in the state are suitable for rice cultivation, our association is encouraged to further develop and popularise rice production in the state.

“Establishment of new and upgrading of existing processing units, either small or medium scale, is our focus.”

He, however, identified herdsmen invasion on farms as the major challenge faced by the farmers in the state.

“We also need availability of light mechanical farm implements like power tillers, planters, harvesters, premium quality herbicides, among others.

“If we are efficiently supported, we will surely boost the quality of our production and satisfy the country adequately.”  (NAN)

Gov. Bello Commends NGOs On Eradication Of Poverty In Africa

Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger has commended the Martin Luther King and Dr Joe Beasley Foundations, NGOs,  for alleviating poverty in Africa.

Bello gave the commendation when Mrs Naomi King and Dr Joe Beasley, founders of the organisation visited him in Minna on Wednesday, to seek partnership with the state on youths and women empowerment.

The two NGOs are United States-based donors/empowerment consortium with capacity to assist developing countries, worldwide, especially African nation’s by intervening in critical sectors of their economy.

Bello expressed the readiness of his administration to partner with the two NGOs to empower women and youths in the state.

The governor, who described the foundations as international donors with similar focus toward human development, appealed to them to assist women and youths in the state Sheanut butter production.

“We will appreciate your partnership more in Sheanut butter production as the state was the world leading producer of the agriculture products.

“We have purchased modern Shea butter production equipment for our women and youths to serve as source of empowerment to them to become self-reliance,” he said.

The governor also said that assisting the state in Shea butter production, women and youths empowerment would improve the economy of the state.

Earlier, Joe Beasley said that the aim of the foundations was to assist African countries on public water utility challenges.

Joe Beasley also said that the NGOs would assist the state to solve its water problem in view of the natural endowment of the state.

He said the NGOs would liaise with World Medical Relief African partners, a Nigeria NGO led by Alhaji Dangana Baba, to assist Niger government to improve water supply, especially in the rural communities.

In her contribution, King, who manages Mother of Global Humanitarian Movement, promised that the foundations would assist the state in women and youths empowerment and other critical sectors. (NAN)