How LNRBDA / Kogi Govt partnership yielded over 7,000 tons of rice

More than 7,000 tons of padded rice were produced as a result of partnership between the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority and the Kogi State Government, the LNRBDA Managing Director, Dr. Adeniyi Saheed Aremu has revealed.

Dr. Aremu disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Ilorin, stressing that the authority has extended various gestures to her rice farmers in various parts of Kwara State with positive results as Kwara State Rice Farmers Association assumed the second largest producer of rice in the just concluded Rice Pyramid in Abuja.

He also noted that LNRBDA has been able to deliver one of its key services by the development of irrigated agriculture through the acquisition of more arable land and subsequent release to individuals, groups and corporate farmers.

“For instance, 500 hectares of farmland was purchased from customary land owners along Malete – Alapa road through the Kwara State Government for farming activities.

“The project when fully implemented is expected to open up the area for accelerated development, provide jobs and boost food sufficiency in Kwara State.

“Equally, the Authority signed MOU with Kogi State Government and released over 5,000 hectares of its farmland to the State Government. Specifically at Ejiba Area Office in Kogi State, the partnership with the State Government yielded about 7,170 tons  of paddy rice from several farmers.”