IN an effort to compliment federal government’s policy in rice production, the Kano state government has reintroduced marketing board for wheat and rice producers in the state, affirming, too, that a plan was in pipeline to partner Nigeria Commodity and Exchange Commission for produce warehousing.
The Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna disclosed this, in an interactive media session at his office.
He revealed that the plan was a strategy to see to the success of the recently launched policy on wheat and rice production, by President Muhammadu Buhari, in Kebbi state. “Kano state being the largest producer of rice and wheat we found it extremely necessary to follow suit,” he stated.
Gawuna expressed happiness that state government has introduced an intervention, “…where the sum of a billion naira is set aside by the state government for the purchase of rice after harvest in a marketing format.”
Part of the effort, according to the commissioner, was the role the state would play in being a coordinator as well as a facilitator between the seed producers, the farmers, warehousing facilities and marketers.
He said, “Farmers are given input loan for them to get good quality seeds. We also have another arrangement with development partners like SASAKAWA, Lake Chad Research Institute, ICRISAT and the rest for taking the lead in helping farmers buy the needed seeds and other technical assistance. Government will just be a facilitator and a guarantee to the farmers.”
According to him, after the harvest there would be ready uptakers as partners, and the warehousing facility would also be there.
Highlighting that there is ready market for any quantity produced by farmers, he revealed there is partnership with the Nigeria Commodity and Exchange Commission, the state’s warehousing managers.
The new strategy, according to the commissioner, would help government expand its revenue base, while the warehousing would also serve as strategic food reserve.
