Ebonyi State government has set up plans for construction of irrigation to farmer in the state in order to start up dry season rice farming across the 13 Local Government Areas in the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Princess Nkechinyere Iyioku stated this when the executive members of the Abakaliki Rice Owners Association paid her a courtesy visit in her office at the Ochudo Centenary City in Abakaliki, the state capital.
Iyioku who also was filled with joy when receiving the members of the Association said, “The present Administration under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has from his first day in office assured to give full supports to farmers in the state mostly the rural farmers who are the real and genuine farmers in the state.
According to her, “Ebonyi State has been known as a rice producing state in the country. Ebonyi Rice is in every part of the country and making the state to compete with other rice producing states like Taraba and kebbi.
“The state government has decided to set up plans to construct the irrigation for rice farming as the above mentioned states has done, which are giving them more advantage to plant rice twice in a year both raining and dry season harvest.”
She further revealed that the state government initiative has been proposed to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture Abuja and has been approved and signed for commencement by the honourable Minister for Agriculture.
She said very soon the state government will start up the construction project in the state for next rice farming season.
The chairman of Abakaliki Rice Owners Association, Comrade Obeji Linus N. who led the delegation of the Executive Members to the state Commissioner commended the State Governor Rt.Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru and also described the governor as farmers’ father because he too is a young great farmer with a large rice farm.
He added that the state government initiative has given them high hope and sense of belonging in the state.
The chairman who could not control his joy promised that if the government can accomplish the irrigation construction project, Abakaliki Rice Owners will not limit rice supplies in Nigeria but will export rice across the boarders of Africa and beyond.
The Association also to state government to make access roads motorable to enable them transport farm produce from one place to another.
The Association also made appeal for installation of solar lights and parameter fence to avoid hoodlums who are penetrating inside the premises of their buildings.