Gombe Rice Pyramid: Gov Yahaya Lauds Buhari for Reviving Agriculture
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has commended President Muhammadu Buhari, for revitalizing agricultural sector which has led to the display of rice pyramids in states across the country.
Speaking at the commemoration of the National Rice Festival and Flag-off of the 2020/2021 dry season rice cultivation on Thursday in Gombe, the Governor said: “if not for the policy direction of the President and the sound support of the CBN, the heaps of rice pyramids on display would not have been possible”.
“The pyramids are back and we are happy to see this and let me recall that only in January the Management of Central Bank with the National Cotton Association were here in Gombe and kick-started the aggregation process of cotton farmers who equally paid the facilities they took in kind to signal the return of cotton production,” Governor stated.
He described Gombe as a shining example in the anchor borrower program of the CBN, according to him, this was owing to the fact that farmers in the State are poised on taking advantage of the program to boost agricultural production and eventually pay in kind facilities obtained to maintain sustainability.
The Governor further stated that the climatic condition in Gombe is favourable for production of sorghum, sesame seeds, and other Agricultural commodities, “making it a perfect destination for Agriculture revolution in the North-east sub-region”.
“Gombe is an agrarian State, with 85% of our people engaged in farming activities. Agriculture is therefore an important source of livelihood to our people and the bedrock of our economy,” Governor Yahaya said.
Also speaking at the event, Governor Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State stated that the rice pyramid on display is an indication of the commitment and steadfastness of President Buhari through the CBN to revolutionise Agriculture to guarantee food security in the country.
He said before the coming of the present administration, farmers in the country used to get between 1.7 to 2.5 tons per hectare and that at the moment farmers are getting 6 tons per hectare on average.
Gombe Rice Pyramid: Gov Yahaya Lauds Buhari for Reviving Agriculture