The Anambra State Commissioner for Agriculture, Afam Mbanefo, said on Monday that the state has reached self-sufficiency in rice production.
Mr. Mbanefo made
the disclosure at a Commodity Alliance Forum/Consultative meeting organised by
the state Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) in Awka.
The commissioner
recalled that the state government had earlier targeted production of 210,000
metric tonnes of rice per annum.
“Based on the
calculation of our expected yield, we are expecting to realise over 236,000
metric tonnes of rice in 2016 based on the production capacity.”
Mr. Mbanefo said
the calculation was based on expected yield of 35 per cent of over 14,300
farmers and the activities of programmes like the VCDP and FADAMA.
He said the
expected yield also included the activities of rice investors in the state,
including Coscharis farms, Joseph Agro and others.
He said the state
government was passionate about revolutionising agriculture and making it wealth
creator, especially for unemployed youth willing to venture into the sector.
The commissioner,
who said the state government ensured a linkage between farmers and off-takers,
advised farmers yet to form cooperatives to do so.
Earlier, the
National Programme Coordinator for VCDP, Ameh Onoja, said the aim of the
programme was to assist the Federal Government to reduce spending on
importation of rice.
According to him,
the overall goal is to ensure that rural poverty is reduced and to ensure
accelerated economic growth is achieved on a sustainable and inclusive basis.
Mr. Onoja, who was
represented by Basil Esinulo, said the project was developed to address some
major constraints militating against agricultural development such as the poor
organisation of farmers, processors and marketing.
Other constraints,
he said, included lack of rural infrastructure, particularly rural roads, water
supply and market as well as poor access to production.
According to him,
tremendous boost in rice production will be achieved to increase incomes and
food security in the country.
The acting state
Programme Coordinator for VCDP, Bonaventure Mochebe, said the forum was
organised to deliberate on issues that affect farmers and to seek ways to
address the challenges.
He said that the
forum will link farmers with financial institutions, off-takers, civil society
organisations and other stakeholders in the rice business.
Mr. Mochebe urged
government to rescue farmers whose three hectares of rice farmland were
destroyed by Fulani herdsmen.
He said on the
sideline of the programme that Fulani herdsmen’s cattle had destroyed over
three hectares of rice farmland.
The forum also
witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), by the farmers,
agro dealers and off-takers to strengthen their partnership and capacity of
production.
(NAN)
No comments:
Post a Comment