Nigeria Govt Approves Over $7.6 Million for Large Scale Rice Farmers

Rice farmers in Nigeria will benefit from a 90 billion naira (over $7.6 million) loan approved by the government, the minister of Commerce, Dr Charles Chukwuma Ugwu said on Saturday.

“If the government identifies individual rice producers in this state, they are in a position to benefit from the fund because it attracts only four percent interest,” said Ugwu, represented by a director in the ministry, Alhaji Usman Malami Gwandu during a courtesy visit to the Kebbi State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu on Saturday.

Kebbi State in north-east Nigeria is among the country’s biggest producers of rice and the state governor was asked to identify individual rice producers who could benefit from the loan and enable them to produce rice in commercial quantities.

Gwandu said the Federal government would provide support to farmers with electricity, while the state government would provide land, water and access roads.

Gwandu was accompanied on the visit by a team of Chinese commercial farmers who, he said were interested in carrying out some mechanized farming in the state, particularly in rice production and were willing to establish demonstration farms.

In response, Governor Aliyu said the state government was willing to provide land and other facilities required for wet and dry season farming to assist individual farmers and groups in large scale rice production.

Source African Press Agency

Net News Publisher