Nasarawa: Agriculture Minister visits Ayarkeke rice farm, pledges FG support

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, recently visited the 1,300 hectares rice farm extension at Ayarkeke in Awe Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.

This farm is an extension of the 2,000 hectares Jangwa rice farm, a key part of Nasarawa State’s wide agricultural initiative aiming to enhance food security.

Senator Kyari pledged both financial and technical support to ensure the success of the project and urged other states to emulate Governor Abdullahi Sule’s efforts in agriculture.

During the visit, Senator Kyari expressed excitement about the progress on the ground and commended the involvement of youth and women in the agricultural efforts.

The Nasarawa State government is heavily invested in expanding rice cultivation as part of a broader 10,000 hectares targeted under a federal food security program.

The Jangwa farm had already started harvesting with promising yields, and the Ayarkeke extension is part of scaling up these efforts.

Governor Abdullahi Sule has overseen the cultivation and praised the cooperation of local communities, ensuring no forceful land seizure occurred.

The program includes plans for compensation where disputes arise and infrastructure improvements like road construction to support farm produce transport

He expressed appreciation to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for creating the enabling environment for subnationals to key into the food security component of the renewed hope agenda.

He commended the Nasarawa State Governor for his determination to see that not only food is secured but also job creation, livelihoods upliftment of the people and communities.

“As we are coming here, you could see the rural roads that were constructed by the state government, the opening of the expanse of agricultural lands. Look at what we are seeing here today. Look at the expense. This is all the initiative of the Governor.

“For me, this is an exciting initiative. It is something that is in alignment with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to increase food production, increase productivity and yield. This is exactly what it is today. I hope and wish that a lot of the subnationals would emulate what Governor Sule is doing,” the Minister said.

He particularly appreciated Governor Sule for opening up an entirely virgin land and committing resources to turn the area into an agricultural haven.

According to the Minister, Nigeria has over 70m hectares of arable land but that only 35m hecatres is being utilised, adding that with the country’s growing population, there is the urgent need to reclaim virgin lands for agricultural purposes like it’s been done in Nasarawa.

“In Nigeria, we have 70m hectares of arable land. But we are only utilising 50 percent of it. We have a growing population and unless and until we capture the additional. What we are seeing here, you could see stumps of trees that have been fallen. All this place was almost unutilised and now you could see it has now been turned into an agricultural haven. For me, this is an exciting initiative,” he said.

Senator Kyari was confident that, alongside the 2000 hecatres of rice farm in Jangwa, the initiative by the Nasarawa State Government is capable of producing about 9000 tons of rice.

Speaking to journalists after inspecting the farm, he said that with the current demand for rice in Nigeria put at about 10m tons, while local production at about 9m tons, initiatives such as in Nasarawa would serve to breach the deficit gap.

“I have already mentioned to His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Sule, whether it is technical, it is inputs or financial support, we are willing to collaborate on such initiatives, because we have seen the steps His Excellency has taken,” the Minister stated.

Also addressing journalists shortly after taking the Minister round the rice farm, Governor Abdullahi Sule, again, called on the people of the state to appreciate President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for making it possible for his administration to embark on such projects.

“We are appreciating the Minister and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. At every available opportunity, I always inform the people of Nasarawa State that for all our development initiatives, we have not borrowed a single kobo. We have not borrowed a single kobo from any bank. It is the policy thrust of the Federal Government under the leadership of President Tinubu that is making it possible for us to embark on all these projects. This is as a result of the maximum improvement in resources coming to the states. At every time, I always call on you when you pray for me to also pray for President Tinubu,” he stated.

Governor Sule used the opportunity to urge the people of the area, especially the youths, to embrace peace and to key into the project in order to improve their socio-economic wellbeing.

He disclosed that his administration opened up the area for agriculture by undertaking the construction of the Adudu-Azara road, as well as Ribi-Jangwa road.

Governor Sule however appealed to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security to take up the construction of the Jangwa Ayarkeke road leading to the rice farm.