PRODUCTION OF 1.5 MILLION TONNES OF RICE POSSIBLE IN BENUE - ORTOM





Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom says Benue State has the capacity to produce 1.5 million metric tonnes of rice annually.

Governor Ortom stated this today in an interview with newsmen shortly after launching this year's harvesting season in Gbajimba, Guma local government area of state.
He said Benue has enormous potential and comparative advantage in agriculture and that with sustained efforts by farmers, the ban on importation of rice and improved prices on the produce, it would be easier to achieve the feat.

He promised that government would encourage irrigation farming by exposing farmers to such practices, and provide regulation to make it affordable to every farmer all year round.

Governor Ortom said the decision of his administration to waive its 5% yearly interest on the N2 billion MOU the State recently signed with Bank of Industry, BOI, is to enable beneficiaries to access the loans at only 5% interest rate, urging the people to take advantage of the opportunity.

The Governor stated that the partnership between his government and Development Partners such IFAD had yielded positive results such that critical infrastructure like rural roads were being provided to easy evacuation of agriculture produce.

Governor Ortom urged the people to begin to patronise made-in Nigeria goods especially now that efforts were on to discourage importation as part of measures to make farmers have value for their products.