Minister of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina, has said
the Federal Government will provide subsidy for rice farmers in Kebbi State to
improve commercial production of the crop.
Adesina said this in Suru Local Government Area of
the state when he inaugurated the new Kebbi Guarantee Minimum Cost of Rice
scheme.
The minister was on a one-day visit to rice farms in
Argungu, Suru and Jega local government areas of the state.
He said his ministry would transport free rice from
the farm clusters to warehouses and processing centres, adding that the
official cost of rice was N6,500 per bag under the scheme.
He reiterated the commitment of the Federal
Government to banning rice importation by 2015.
Adesina said President Goodluck Jonathan was
committed to transforming agriculture and ensure self-reliance in food
production.
According to him, the Federal Government is spending
N1bn on the importation of rice, but stressed that “we cannot keep foreign
farmers employed, while our farmers and potential in rice production are
ignored.”
He commended the efforts made by Kebbi State towards
achieving the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government
aimed at producing 20 million tonnes of rice for domestic consumption by 2015.
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