Following the Federal Government quest of boosting the country’s rice production, at least 6,520 farmers drawn from five states across the country including Kogi are to participate in this year’s dry – season rice production under the CBN Anchor Borrowers Programme.
Rabin Emaikwu chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), disclosed this at the monthly meeting of the Core Delivery Team (CDT) of the State Partnership for Agriculture ( SPA ) organized by Synergos Nigeria over the weekend in Lokoja.
The monthly meeting was to enable the CDT discuss and outline 2018 priority areas of activities and intervention while evaluating progress and new developments made in the agricultural sector and as well strengthen collaboration and partnership in the state.
Emaikwu, who doubles as the special adviser to Yahaya Bello on Farmer’s Affair and Agricultural Development said the model is being experimented in Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) , using 6,520 existing rice farmers across.
“We are using farm locations that do not require a fresh clearing of land. The mapping is already going on in Kogi and hopefully by the end of this year to January 2018 the programme will kick start”. Emaiku said.
Dennis Okoloke, director-agricultural service, Kogi State Ministry of Agriculture, said the state intended to improve on the production of cassava, rice and cashew in the 2018 planting season, adding that about 4,200 hectares of land comprising 200 hectares in each of the 21 local government areas in Kogi had been earmarked for the production and enhancement of cassava value chain.
He also informed that Alloma Oil Palm Plantation was billed for rehabilitation and expansion with over 1,000 hectares of available land, while rehabilitation and expansion of cocoa filed was also being planned for nine local government areas.
Also in his contribution, Uhuru Akoh ODI, director, livestock in the ministry , hinted that 1, 000 earthling ponds would be established to empower youths with a pilot project of 2,500 fingerings per pond in each local government areas of the three senatorial districts.
Recheal Tokola, director nutrition in her address disclosed that the ministry would embark on micro – nutrient deficiency control through promotion of home gardens and school farming, adding that N10Million has been proposed for commencement of nutrition-sensitive agriculture in 2018 budget.
Also Lydia Oyegbule of Fadama 111 AF disclosed that plans are underway to establish 33 crop processing centres comprising 20 for women and 13 for youths, adding that funding for 195 FADAMA beneficiaries would be made available.
Victoria Nnakiaike, Lokoja
