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)
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