We’ll put measures in place to make Jangwa Rice Farm sustainable-Governor Sule

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has said that his administration is putting measures on ground to ensure the sustainability of the state-owned Jangwa Rice Farm.

Governor Sule made this known Tuesday, shortly after inspecting the extension of the Jangwa Rice Farm in Agwatashi, Obi Local Government Area, preparatory to harvesting the rice planted about three months ago.

According to the Governor, with the state government having committed enormous resources in clearing the 3,300 hectares of land, with the extension virtually a virgin land, his administration is taking steps towards ensuring the sustainability of the project beyond 2027.

“We want to keep this farm beyond when we are in office, so that the next government will take it over. A lot of work has been done in clearing the land only. When you clear this size of land, in thousands of hectares, you are not going to recover your expenses immediately. It is over the time that you continue to plant that you will be able to recover.

“But you can’t do all this clearing only to abandon the land after two or three seasons. That is the reason why we are going to put in place whatever is necessary to ensure that this farm is sustained beyond our administration,” he stated.

He said he personally visited the farm as part of preparations towards harvesting the rice expected to commence in three week’s time.

Governor Sule disclosed that as part of the preparations, the road leading to the farm would be graded to make it more accessible to heavy-duty vehicles that would evacuate the harvested rice to be transported to Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

He added that, the state government will also procure additional combined harvesters to facilitate efficient and timely harvesting of the rice.

“From what you have seen, the farm is ready for harvest. We are getting ready to start harvesting in the next two weeks or so. Before we do that, we will grade the road leading to the farm so that it would be motorable for most of the heavy-duty vehicles coming to evacuate the harvested rice.

“We are also going to work towards getting enough combined harvesters to enable the harvesting quickly so that we can take the rice to Lafia,” he said.

The Governor hinted on additional measures being put in place to adequately secure the farm and protect it from vandalisation.

He disclosed that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state is partnering with the state government by providing additional security on the farm.

“We are also here with the Commandant of the NSCDC. He decided to join us on the trip in order to assist by providing more security for the area,” he said.

Governor Sule equally unfolded additional initiatives aimed at engaging the youths of the area to take ownership of the farm.

“Most of the youths from this area are from Ayarkeke, Agwatashi, and Jangwa. They are the ones involved in working on the farm. I have made a commitment to them that the moment we finish this harvest, and we are able to realise our proper yield, we will come back to compensate them properly.

“In addition to whatever salary and allowances we are paying them, we will make a special provision, a bonus, that we will give to the community for everything they have done,” he explained.

He used the opportunity of the visit to show appreciation to the two officials charged with the responsibility of running the farm, his Special Adviser on Special Duties Agriculture, Hon Iyimoga Oyigye, as well as a former permanent secretary at the state Ministry of Agriculture.