Kano to invest N200m to boost rice production

• Seeks to achieve over 2 million tons in 2017
• Increases loan packages for rice farmers
• Concludes plan to employ more extension workers

The Kano State Government has designated over N200 million in the recently approved 2017 budget to boost rice farming in the state.

This was disclosed by the state’s Commissioner of Information, Mohammed Garba, informing that this was part of the state government’s efforts to increase rice production in the state, generally improve the state’s agricultural sector and complement the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce over dependence on crude oil.

According to him, “rice and wheat farmers were given N150 million loan in 2016 to boost production in the sector, while in 2017 we are planning to increase the loan. All necessary measures will be taken to ensure that the ordinary farmers in the state benefit more from the gesture”.

Speaking further on the efforts of the state government in rice production, Garba noted the success of rice production the state enjoyed in 2016, stating that Kano mustered over 1.5 million tons of rice in the year.

The Commissioner communicated the state’s resolve to increase the production figures in rice to over 2 million tonnes in 2017. He also explained that to this end, the state had concluded plans to employ more agricultural extension workers to assist farmers across the state, with the overarching aim of improving and increasing rice production.

“These extension workers would be going round the farming areas to assist the farmers on how to ensure proper production of rice and wheat,” Garba said.

It could be recalled that Kano produced 1.6m tons of rice in 2016, that the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje during an interactive session with farmers had revealed that the state produced 1,551,720 tons of rice in 2016, while wheat production experienced a swell increase by 84 per cent. The session included intimating farmers on loan recovery scheme of commercial triumvirate which included the Central Bank of Nigeria, Bank of Agriculture and the Anchor-Borrowers Programme.