The Federal Government is to assist Kwara state in Rice Expansion programme to boost food sufficiency in Nigeria.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh said this in Ilorin when he paid a courtesy visit to the State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed at his lodge.
Chief Ogbeh who said Kwara State is identified with massive rice and cassava production called on farmers in the State to take interest in cashew production as the Federal Government would soon send varieties of cashew seedlings to Kwara State and some other states of the federation.
He also called on each state of the federation to focus on one or two major export crops with comparative advantage as a measure towards improving Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.
The Minister promised that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari would turn the agricultural sector into the new oil and gas by making the sector more attractive to farmers and potential investors.
Chief Ogbeh who expressed concern over the neglect of the agricultural sector due to the discovery of oil in commercial quantity encouraged Nigerians to go back to agriculture, saying that Nigeria is blessed with good arable land and weather for food sufficiency.
In his remarks, the Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed disclosed that his government had identified Rice, Soya, Cassava and Maize for special attention and expressed readiness to partner with the Federal Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development.
The Governor said his administration’s demand-driven agricultural scheme had enabled farmers to take advantage in agricultural value chains.
