Edo Government says it has earmarked about four hundred hectares of
land for rice production during the 2019 farming season as part of its
‘Agri-Preneur’ programme.
The Special Adviser to Gov. Godwin Obaseki on Agriculture, Mr Joe
Okojie, disclosed this when he led technical partners of the programme
on a courtesy visit to Edo Government House in Benin on Tuesday.
Okojie said that the state government started a pilot scheme of the
programme last year with six hundred hectares in Iguoriakhi, Illushi,
Warrake and Agenebode in the three Senatorial districts of Edo.
He said that the success of the pilot scheme led to the expansion
this year with 850,00 farmers to benefit on an average of five hectares
per farmer.
Okojie said that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would be providing
funds, while the Nigeria Incentive Based Risk Sharing System for
Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) would provide technical support to the
farmers to minimise all risks.
Mr Ibrahim Abdulahi, the Head of Agric Field Services in NIRSAL, said
that the project would use best agricultural practices at making
profits of one million naira per five hectares.
Mr Philip Shaibu, the Edo Acting Governor, said that the design of
the “agri-preneur” programme was to grow food locally, create wealth and
ultimately grow the economy.
Shaibu said that the economy of the state must be private sector
driven, adding that government would partner agencies that would assist
in growing the economy of the state.
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