FCT Fadama III project has increased domestic rice production

The Acting Project Coordinator, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Fadama III Additional Financing Project, Rotimi Ajayi, has disclosed that the project has contributed immensely to local production of rice in the nation’s capital through trainings and funding support of rice farmers in the areas of  seed multiplication, adoption of proven rice production technology and other agronomic practices among others.

Ajayi who disclosed this during the Farmers Green Field-day on dry season rice production organised by Noma Tushin Arziki Production Group Yaba, Abaji, said the project supports cluster of farmers in communities across FCT that have comparative advantage and high potential to increase production and productivity of Cassava, Rice and Sorghum value chain.

While noting that the Presidential initiative on reducing rice importation and increasing local production is a decisive step and should be supported by stakeholders, Ajayi noted that the Project was all about helping farmers to improve themselves and achieve the objectives of making food available to Nigerians.

He said the transfer of technologies and their adoption have resulted to the production of over 84 metric tonnes of Faro-44 Rice Seed by 20 members of Fogbe Rice production cluster, Kwali Area Council at an average of 4.2MT per hectare as against the initial 0.8MT/Ha in 2017/2018 dry season farming.

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He  however, advised farmers to continue to leverage on the project so as to achieve the targeted food sufficiency in the country.

Speaking also, Director, Admin and Finance, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARDS-FCTA), Ayo Femi Folarin, said the adoption of these simple technologies and proven agronomic practices by the farmers will no doubt boost the production and increase income of rice farmers in FCT, thereby enhancing food security.

Folarin, while noting that  the investment is aimed at increasing incomes of farmers on sustainable basis, said the FCT Administration under the leadership of Mallam Muhammed Musa Bello, has been very supportive to FCT Fadama III Additional Financing project through ARDS.

He said, “We are impressed with the efforts made so far by the Project in the Implementation of Fadama Ill Additional Financing Project in the areas of mobilisation and formation of potential groups, capacity building training, on-farm research demonstration of proven technologies as well as provision of funding support in form of grants to our esteemed farmers in the FCT.

“FCT is naturally endowed with abundant flood plains suitable for all year rice production; this is what is being demonstrated by one of the viable Fadama group, ”Noma Tushin Arziki” in Yaba, Abaji Area Council.