IHEDIOHA LAUNCHES RICE SEED FARM IN AMUMARA COMMUNITY

Imo State Government has officially launched Rice Seed Farm Project at Amumara Community in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of the State.

The State Governor, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, who performed the ground breaking ceremony said the project would expand the economy base of the state and earn resources through export.

Rice is regarded as one of the staple foods consumed in large quantity in Nigeria.

This is why Governor Ihedioha approved the intervention of International Organizations to train citizens from various communities in rice seed production for the next four months.

He maintained that the government would provide necessary irrigation equipment to make the project a mechanized system.

The Governor said the choice of Amumara Community was because of its fertile soil and riverine base.

He urged youths to take advantage of the training, noting that the state governor would patner Rural Access Mobility Programme to ensure access roads and fast track food production.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Food Value Chain and Program Manager (ADP), Dr Chijoke Osuji, explained that the State Government had put in place necessary mechanism to make the rice farming easier.

Dr. Osuji noted that the varieties of Rice seedlings have been brought to start multiplying them in the state.

Earlier in an address, the President General Amumara, Mr. Leo Nwogwugwu, thanked the Governor for choosing Amumara as rice base community.

A representative from the National Center for Agric Mechanization, Dr. Adenuiyi Shegu, who encouraged youths to queue into the training, explained that the center was positioned to assist them.

The varieties of Rice displayed at the event were Federal Agricultural Research Orizzal FARO 16, 60, 57, 52 and 44.

Meanwhile, Governor Ihedioha also launched the 2019 All Seasons Farming and Unveiling of Agricultural Road Map of the State at Ahiajoku Convention Center.

CHUKWUKA AGUKWE