Taraba can produce 10m tonnes of rice annually, says gov

Darius Ishaku, governor of Taraba state, says his state has the potential to generate 10 million tonnes of rice which is the country’s annual demand for the food item.

According to NAN, Ishaku said this at Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders meeting.

He said that this was achievable with adequate financing and availability of modern equipment.

The govenor said his administration is determined to support farmers in the state with farm inputs and improved seeds to increase their productivity.

According to him, Dominion Farms, owned by a Kenyan investor in Gassol, had been given six months to commence buying of paddy rice from out-growers for processing.

“Recently, there is a high demand of bennie seeds in our markets; though, I do not know what they are doing with it. We have acquired its improved seed,” he said.

“We have also acquired hybrid seeds of soya beans and of course, cassava, because I will soon revive our cassava processing plant.

“When that is done, it will bring the total companies I revived to five out of the 25 companies that were in comatose when I took over

“Recently, there is a high demand of bennie seeds in our markets; though, I do not know what they are doing with it. We have acquired its improved seed.

“We have also acquired hybrid seeds of soya beans and of course, cassava, because I will soon revive our cassava processing plant. When that is done, it will bring the total companies I revived to five out of the 25 companies that were in comatose when I took over.”

Also speaking, Victor Bala, PDP chairman in the state, said politics was like an investment and one should not expect high dividends.

“Politics is like an investment. If you invest a little, do not expect high dividends at the end of the day,” Bala said.