Taraba State to cater for the high demand of rice in the country - Gov. Ishaku

Gov. Darius Ishaku 

Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, has boasted that the 10million tonnes of rice that is annually demanded of the country, can be realized in the state if given adequate financing and availability of modern equipment.


Governor Ishaku said this while addressing stakeholders at a meeting of the PDP’s delegates representing Jalingo and Ardo-kola at Ardo-Kola axis of the state.

He said areas like: Wukari, Gassol, Lau, Ibi, Takum, Ardo-kola, Karim-lamido, among others, has fertile lands suitable for growing large quantities of rice.

The governor pointed out that lack of finance has incapacitated farmers in the state from producing this highly demanded farm produce in its needed proportion.

He pledged his administration to support farmers by equipping them with farm inputs and improved seeds to increase their productivity.

He said that 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.

The governor announced that the state government had bought hybrid seeds of Bennie seeds, soya beans and cassava and it would soon distribute them to its farmers.

“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,’’ Ishaku said.

The governor said he was in Ardo-kola to thank the people for coming out in large numbers to vote him into office in 2015.

In his words; “The best time to appreciate that support is now; since I have won all the post-election suits instituted by my opponents’’.

Also speaking, the state PDP Chairman, Mr Victor Bala, noted that loyalty to party decisions was critical to the growth of party politics.

Bala urged council area chapters of the party that could not garner adequate support for the party in 2015 election, to “sit up’’ as the 2019 general elections were approaching.

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