By Stanley Onyekwere
The Director, Department of Agric Services of the FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS), Mrs. Francisca Ihekandu has lead a team of private investors from G-Consulting International ltd, interested in rice production to Yaba community, in Abaji Area Council of the FCT.
According to a statement from Deputy Director, Information & Communications, ARDS, Zakari Aliyu, the visit to Yaba which is blessed with abundant water bodies and suitable for rice production is to give the investors an opportunity to have a first-hand assessment with the view of adding value to rice production.
The statement read: “Part of the responsibilities of the Committee is to showcase our potentials to attract potential investors and we have brought the team from G- Consulting in order for them to see for themselves what we have on ground here in Yaba.
“And I want to assure you that with the support of well-meaning investors, FCT will be able to meet its food and nutrition needs and even beyond the FCT.
“At the moment we have began the process of collecting a database of rice farmers not just here in Yaba, but all the Area Councils to give us an idea of the specific areas of need of the farmers”.
It added that Ihekandu commended the ARDS Secretary, Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim, for conceiving the idea of setting up the Committee which she noted will reach out to Donor Agencies, Development Partners, Non-Governmental Organizations and other stakeholders to develop FCT irrigation potentials.
“Hon. Minister of State, FCT Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu assisted by Secretary, Agriculture & Rural Development Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim at an event to distribute inputs to farmers in FCT.
“In rounding up the assessment visit, the committed along with the team from G Consult paid a visit to the Etsu of Yaba, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu who thanked the Honourable Minister of State FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu for the various Agric developmental programmes that she has put in place through the Agric Secretariat.
“He pledged support of the Yaba community to ensure the success of the work of the Committee”, the statement added.
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