The Jigawa State Government confirmed the receipt of 10,000 water pump machines from the Federal Government as support for dry season rice production.
This was disclosed by the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Sefullahi Umar, while speaking to Online Tribune. He said the State Government also procured 10,000 solar-powered water pumps to be distributed to dry season rice farmers across the 27 local government areas of the state.
The Technical Adviser explained that the state made provision for 20,000 water pumps to support dry season farmers in improving irrigation schemes to achieve the national food security policy set by the present administration.
Dr Sefullahi Umar added that this is under the Rice Value Chain Development Project (RVCDP) established by Malam Umar Namadi to transform and improve rice production, aimed at creating job opportunities and economic sustainability, particularly for teeming youth.
According to him, “under the Rice Value Chain Development Project (RVCDP) the state government intended to support 58,000 rice irrigation farmers to cultivates a targeted of about 200,000 hectors with subsides agricultural inputs on the current dry season rice production”.
He noted that “the state government would distribute 20,000 solar and gasoline water pump machines, 2500, improve Rice seedlings, 200,000 bags NPK 15-15-15, 150,000 Urea fertilizers, 50,000 litres of herbicide, 50,000 sachet of fungicide and 100,000 litres harpcite and pesticide each”.
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Umar maintained that “We have established an ambitious target of 3.6 million metric tonnes of annual rice production, and I am confident that with diligent farmers, committed stakeholders, and supportive partners, this goal can be achieved”.
“For the current dry season alone, over 58,500 farmers across 27 localities will cultivate more than 130,000 hectares using improved seed varieties, modern cultivation techniques including fertilisation, weed control, and irrigation”.
“This initiative aims not simply for increased output but complete transformation. Through the Rice Value Chain Development project, we will roll out full mechanisation, processing hub development, and improved access to local and global markets. We pledge to transform Jigawa into Nigeria’s leading rice producer and a vibrant agribusiness and rural prosperity centre”.
The Technical Adviser stated further that 50,000 of the beneficiaries are smallholder farmers cultivating between 0.5 and 1 hectare, while approximately 8,500 are cultivating between 2 and 5 hectares. Overall, more than 80% of the beneficiaries are smallholders who will enjoy subsidies ranging from 20% to 30%, while large-scale farmers will receive a 10% subsidy.
Regarding the input packages, Dr Sefullahi stated that a farmer cultivating one hectare will receive: 50kg of Faro 44 rice seed, four bags of NPK 15-15-15 fertiliser, three bags of urea, one litre each of insecticide and fungicide, and two litres each of pre-emergence and post-emergence herbicides, while farmers cultivating 0.5 hectares will receive half of the above package.
He therefore called on the beneficiaries to make very good use of the opportunity in order to achieve the desired objectives.
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