Mohammed Abubakar Dutse
Jigawa state Governor Umar Namadi has declared that his government has succeeded in supporting farmers to cultivate over 200,000 hectares of rice in this dry season, and expected to harvest over 800,000 metric tones.
The governor dropped the hint during an inspection visits to some rice farms along Hedjia Valley in Ringim, Taura, Auyo and Hadejia local government areas of the state.
He said, agriculture is one of the key sector of his 12-point agenda and it would be used for poverty eradication, jobs creation, food security and building local resilient and sustainable economic development.
However, the governor’s optimism is coming just as rice and wheat farmers in the state are lamenting the rising cost of fuel which they said is affecting their production. This is in addition to the the low purchasing power of the people.
The farmers’views were conveyed to the governor by one of the large scale rice farmer in the state, Dauda Ali Kura, who intimated the governor that he spends an average of N 5million per week on fuel alone, not to talk of other farming inputs.
Namadi, however assured the farmers of the state government support through the provision of various farm inputs at subsidized prices, as well as soft loan which enable them to cultivate these large farm lands.
According to him, they are targeted to produce 800,000 metric tones in this dry season and also hope to produce similar in the upcoming raining season, that means, Jigawa will produce 1,600,000 metric tones which is equivalent to 27 percent of the annual rice needed in Nigeria.
The governor,i however told the farmers that, his government is a were of the high coast of fuel which negatively affect their coast of production, promised to collaborate with federal government to get subsidized fuel for them.
He also promised to source Solar Powered Water Pump Generators and sale it at subsidized price to the farmers in order to reduce their coast of production and increase their profit.
Namadi then commended the farmers for demonstrating their commitment to their business which he described as very encouraging .
Speaking on behalf of the farmers, one of the farmers Alhaji Dauda Ali Kura told the governor that, their major problem in this dry season farming was high coast of fuel, as he alon spend over 5 million on fuel every week, he then called on the governor to provide them with an alternative to enable them remain in the job.
