Jigawa state governor, Malam Umar Namadi, Thursday, said over 800,000 metric tonnes of rice would be produced during the 2024 dry season farming across the state.
He said his government has already succeeded in supporting farmers to cultivate over 200,000 hectares of wet land in all the areas identified as suitable for the dry season farming activities in the state.
Namadi made this known during his inspection tour to some rice farms along the Hedjia wet land which stretches from Ringim down to Taura, Hadejia and Auyo local government areas of the state.
“Agriculture is one of the key sectors of my 12-point agenda and it will be used for poverty eradication, job creation, food security and building local resilient and sustainable economic development.
“The farmers were supported with various farm inputs in a subsidised price, as well as soft loan to enable them to cultivate these large farm lands.
“The farmers are targeted to produce 800,000 metric tons in this dry season and also hope to produce similar in the upcoming raining season.
“At the end of it all, Jigawa state will produce 1,600,000 metric tones which is equivalent to 27 percent of the annual rice needed in Nigeria,” Namadi stated.
He told the farmers that his government is aware of the high cost of fuel which negatively affects the cost of production.
“I have promised to collaborate with the federal government to get subsidised fuel for our dry season farmers.
“I also promised to source for the Solar Powered Water Pump Generators and sell them at the subsidised price to the farmers in order to reduce their cost of production and increase their profit,” Namadi added.
Also speaking on behalf of the farmers, Alhaji Dauda Ali Kura, told the governor that high cost of fuel is their major problem in dry season farming.
“I, alone spend a huge amount of money on fuel every week. I want to use this chance to appeal to the governor to provide us with an alternative source to fuel and enable us remain in business,” Kura said.
