NAN-AE-3
Irrigation
By Mohammed Mamman
Damaturu, Oct. 17, 2016 (NAN) The Yobe Government on Monday said that it had set aside 1,500 hectares of land in Nguru and Giedam for rice, wheat and vegetable cultivation, under the irrigation scheme.
Mr Mustapha Gajerima, the Commissioner for Agriculture, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu, as part of activities to commemorate the 2016 World Food Day.
“Over 4,000 youths will be engaged to cultivate rice, wheat and vegetables, to complement rain-fed agriculture, and guaranty food security in the state,” he said.
The commissioner cautioned farmers against hurriedly selling their newly-harvested produce.
“Farmers are advised against falling prey to cheap prices, from people buying the newly-harvested grains, to hoard and resell later at exorbitant rates.”
Gajerima said the government was working toward resuscitating the state’s grains reserve programme, by buying the excess commodities from farmers, and to sell to the public at subsidised rates at times of need.
He said that such arrangement would help in stabilizing the price of foodstuffs in the state.
In a related development, some Damaturu residents have urged the Federal and Yobe Governments to resuscitate the Strategic Grains Reserve Programme, to promote food security in the country.
Malam Aisami Bukar, a civil servant, said that government at all levels should revive the grains reserve programme, to save food for the rainy days.
Also, Halima Alkali, a housewife, urged government to introduce policies and programmes that would fill the gap created by the ban on importation of rice into Nigeria.
“Government should support farmers to engage in irrigation farming, buy the excess grains for storage in the reserve, to secure the food needs of the country.
“The excess commodity should be exported to generate revenue,’’ Alkali said.
Meanwhile, Malam Usman Mustapha, an irrigation farmer on the Nguru wetlands, said the area had abundant agricultural potentialities that could feed the North-East sub-region. (NAN)
MM/FLP/BOS
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Edited by Folorunso Poroye/dele bodunde