Taraba Govt. to Help Farmers Check Rice Import, Boost Food Security

Taraba State Government said it is set to assist more local rice farmers to produce enough rice to feed the nation and check huge import bills on rice into the country.

His Excellency, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku.

Governor Darius Ishaku who disclosed this on Sunday at the thanksgiving church service to mark the 80th birthday celebration of the Chief of Donga, Dr. Stephen Bayonga said the State Government has so far assisted 17,000 rice farmers in the past two years.

“We held a meeting with the Federal Government over the high import bills on rice and we all agreed to work hard to stop the importation of rice into the country.

“Taraba alone can feed the nation with rice and cut the N800bn being spent yearly on rice import. So, I want to call on the people of the State to return to farming.

“On our part, we are poised to assist more rice farmers to produce enough rice to feed the nation, boost economy and check poverty,” he said.

The governor congratulated the Gara of Donga for clocking 80 years and prayed God to grant him good health and wisdom to rule.

In his remarks, the celebrant, The Gara of Donga, Dr. Stephen Bayonga thanked God for sparing his life to see his 80th birthday and appreciated the people who turned out to celebrate with him.

Bayonga called on the Governor to consider the construction of the Donga – Mararaba road to ease movement of people and for economic growth of the area.

Resident Pastor of CRC-N Donga, Rev. Enoch Aboki in his sermon enjoined the people to always appreciate God and never forget the good things God has done in their lives.

Rev. Aboki called on the Governor to deal with the security situation in the area especially in kidnapping and armed robbery.