National Accord | 25 October 2024Nigeria: Nasarawa Govt begins harvest of 10,000 hectares of rice
By DANJUMA JOSEPH, Lafia –
The Nasarawa State Government has commenced the harvest of it’s 2,000 hectares of rice farm in Jangwa village of Awe Local Government Area of State.
Governor Sule, flagged off the harvest on Thursday, when he led government officials and journalists on a visit to the farm to suppervised the harvest.
The 2000 hectares of rice is part of the 10,000 hectares initially earmarked for the food security programme.
Speaking to journalists shortly after witnessing the harvest, Governor Suleexpressed confidence that the yield at the Jangwa rice farm would exceed expectations.
According to the governor, within the two days of the commencement of the exercise, so far 200 jumbo bags of rice have been harvested on nearly 14 hectares of the farm, using three combined harvesters.
The governor, who announced plans to crash high cost of purchasing rice in the state, said the rice farm was ready for harvest in six months due to the high yield, adding that the farm production would be cultivated twice in a year.
“This project was conceived in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative of President Bola Tinubu, aimed at ensuring food security and to cushion the hardship in the country.
“The project is an inclusive one as it has carried both the youths and women in the planting and harvesting of the rice. A lot of indigenes have been employed as a result of this farm”
“As part of efforts to reduce transportation of the farm produce, we have awarded contract for the construction of 18 kilometers asphalt road from Ribi to Jangwa community” Gov Sule disclosed.
He noted that out of the 10,000 hectares, government would compensate the community members for 300 hectares already occupied for other activities.
He appreciated the people of the state, especially Jangwa community for their cooperation and support so far and called for its sustainability.
In a separate interviews, a community leaders in Ayarkeke – Jangwa community, Zaki Justin Shaku and a youth leader in the community, Yusuf Jangwa, commended the government for conceiving the Idea.
According to them, the project has so far benefitted youths, women and others and called for more of such initiatives to improve the standard of living of the people.
They equally called on the Government to provide more infrastructure especially road network to the community to enable the transportation of their farm produce to the markets.
