Don't Miss


Home   >   Goverment   >   Niger government to spend N17bn on rice project

Niger government to spend N17bn on rice project

By on March 21, 2013

The Niger Government said on Wednesday that it had entered into agreement with some commercial banks to inject N17 billion over the next three years on rice cultivation in the state.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Ahmed  Matane, said this at Kuchin Woro village in Lavun Local Government Area during the disbursement of relief materials to victims of 2012 flood.

He said 200, 000 hectares of land would be cultivated with an expectant annual yield of one million tons of rice.

Matane said that 100, 000 farmers are expected to participate in the project, with each farmer getting two hectares for rice cultivation.

According to him, each hectre is projected to produce five tons as against the current yield of two tons.

“The farmers are expected to cultivate the rice all-year-round, thus ensuring that farmers participate in dry season farming too instead of depending on rain water for their farming.

“Each farmer will be provided high yielding seeds, fertiliser, herbicides, and harvesters among other farming inputs that will guarantee them higher yield, with the assistance of their extension officers.

“The rice consortium project will not only improve the living condition of the farmers but will equally improve on the availability of rice for ordinary Nigerians and even for export to other countries.“

Matane said the farmers would also be trained by experts to ensure compliance with modern farming methods.

[Daily Times]