Institute for Agricultural Research, (IAR) Zaria has trained rice farmers in Nasarawa State on procedures for boosting dry season production using cheap technology. Official of IAR, Professor Henry Ibadun, said during a field demonstration of the technologies at Azuba town in Lafia, that, “It would go a long way to ensure cost-effective rice production during dry season. The project is under the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), and Water Enabler Compact (WEC) programme and will make rice production attractive to the youth.”
According to him, government should support agriculture with the necessary machineries that would attract and harness the strength of the youth in order to boost the sector. In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Suleiman Gambo appreciates IAR for introducing the technologies to rice farmers in the state.
He assured the institute that government would do its best to sustain and ensure the utilisation of the technologies for optimum dry season production. Similarly, Chairman of Bukan-Sidi Rice Innovation Platform, Mr. Joshua Jonathan, thanked IAR for implementing the programme in the state.
SOURCE:DAILY TRUST