By Ayodele Oni
Ekiti State, the leading rice producer in Southwest Nigeria for 2023, is deepening its engagement with rice farmers across the state to enhance production.
Major towns where rice production is taking the centre stage, are Okemesi, Ido Ile, Ikoro, Ijero, Orin, Aisegba, and Ijan.
A recent series of meetings with farmers have brought to light challenges and set pathways for enhancing production through targeted state interventions.
According to the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Ekiti produced between 150,000mt to 175,000mt of rice this year, which has positioned it as a critical supplier for major rice mills that source their paddy directly from the state.
Sharing his thought on this development, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, highlighted the state’s ongoing efforts.
“Lowland rice thrives in Ekiti, and we’re committed to building on this strength by supporting our farmers every step of the way.
“To back this commitment, Ekiti state has supplied rice farmers with FARO 44 seeds, known for their resilience and high yield, sourced from Premier Seeds.
“The state also provided Urea and NPK fertilizers at no cost, and just today, another substantial round of fertilizer was approved for distribution, particularly benefiting late-season planters.
“The government’s comprehensive support aims to close the production loop, ensuring a buy-back arrangement where harvested rice paddy is processed within Ekiti.
“Our food security plan is designed to subsidize production as much as possible and to be the final buyer for these products, directly supporting our farmers.
“With promising rainfall patterns expected to continue through mid-November, Ekiti’s rice farmers are anticipating a bountiful harvest.”
Boluwade, reflecting on the work done so far, emphasized that “food security demands deliberate actions.”
The Commissioner expressed excitement over monitoring reports from farmsteads, noting the positive impact of these initiatives on the ground.
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