By Michael Wuya, Lafia
As part of efforts to tackle food insecurity in Nasarawa State, Governor Abdullahi Sule, on Monday, commenced the harvest of three thousand three hundred (3,300) hectares of rice farm at Jangwa in Awe local government area of the state.
Speaking shortly after inspecting the rice farm, governor Abdullahi Sule, said that last year the state government cultivated 2,000 hectares of the land but there was an additional 1,300 hectares in Agwatashi in Obi Local Government Area which make the total of 3,300 hectares cultivated as part of government’s effort to address food insecurity in the state.
According to him,” By the grace of God next season we will expand by another 2,000 so that at least we will be talking about 5,000 hectares.
“Is so important and so exciting for some of us. Last year all the harvest we transported from here in Jangwa to Lafia where we sold the rice to Olam farms. Today we have been able to have a partner and a true partner who will buy the rice from us instead buying from open market.”
The governor explained that Silvex is a company that has rice meals in Kogi, and Abuja but they don’t have a rice farm but they have decided to partnering with Nasarawa State government in the supply of the rice instead of buying from open market.
In an interview with Mr. Abubakar Garba Ibrahim, the Chief Operating Officer of Silvex International and Project Head of Nasarawa Agro-Commodity Company (NASACCO), described the partnership as a huge for the company.
He explained that the partnership would benefit the state in several ways, including taxes, value addition, and sharing of end profits.
The Silvex COO commended Governor Sule’s unwavering commitment to transforming the agricultural sector in Nasarawa State and beyond.
He noted that the partnering with Nasarawa State would boost rice production in the state, with plans to source paddy rice from the state’s farms to feed the company’s processing facilities.
At the visit to the Jangwa and Agwatashi farms, the partners conducted reconnaissance surveys and assessed the quality of the rice being produced.
They expressed satisfaction with the quality of the rice, noting that the varieties being grown are among the best in the world.
Mr. Abubakar, expressed that the partnership with Silvex International is a key component of the state’s efforts to boost economic growth and development through agriculture.
He also said that NASACCO brand is expected to become a major player in the Nigerian rice market, and the state’s farmers are expected to benefit from increased demand and better prices for their produce.
The chief operating officer of Silvex international noted that partnership is a significant milestone in the state’s agricultural development, and it is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of the people of Nasarawa State.
He, however, added that with the combined efforts of the state government and Silvex International, the state’s rice production is expected to increase significantly, leading to economic growth and development
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