By Peter Okutu
Ebonyi state government yesterday disclosed that it was targeting the production of one million metric tons of rice annually even as it has put in place incentives to make farmers meet the expectations of government in the area of food production.
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state stated this in Abakaliki local government area during the flag off of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Anchor Borrowers Programme in the state.
Represented by the Secretary to the State government, Prof Bernard Odo, the governor who explained that 20,000 farmers were expected to be part of the programme added that before the end of the year, 100,000 farmers would have joined the scheme as the state's current rice production lacked the capacity to feed the people of the state, let alone the country.
According to him, the state government had began a partnership venture with CBN which would not only boost rice production but also motivate farmers to engage in large scale commercial production of rice among other food crops in the state.
In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Barr. Uchenna Orji who expressed joy over the partnership between the state and the CBN urged farmers across the 13 LGAs to key into the scheme as it will benefit them and the state at large.
Orji noted that the State Executive Council members who are part of the Project Monitoring Team, PMT of the government were working round the clock to ensure the full implementation and success of the agricultural policies of the present administration.
Meanwhile the CBN consultant, Mr. Michael Enahoro stated that the scheme, if fully implemented would cause agricultural revolution across the state as Ebonyi was playing a key role in the food security of the nation.
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