The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Oyo state chapter, has stressed the need for the Federal Government to sustain and make effective, policy banning importation of rice.
The Association’s Chairman, Mr Victor Korede, made this known on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan.
Korede also said farmers needed favourable, progressive and consistent government policy in order to encourage mass production of rice and other produce, for food sufficiency and boost revenue.
He said building and acquisition of integrated rice of world class should be encouraged; adding that commercial production of rice should be made effective.
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Korede said government could achieve this by encouraging local farmers to go beyond subsistence cultivation.
“In the South, government should assist in land clearing challenges facing farmers, irrigation system should be boosted in the region to encourage dry season farming as in Northern part,” he said.
He disclosed that no fewer than 300 tonnes of rice were produced yearly by the farmers in the state and sold, adding that some of the farmers operated micro rice mills.
“Efforts are on to raise our production standard; some of our members are engaged in Dangote rice production scheme, we are engaged as out-growers. Dangote supplies inputs and we plant and sell to him.
“We are also part of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) anchor borrower scheme and are expecting delivery of inputs for dry season farming while preparation for the wet season is in earnest.
“We are working earnestly to establish relationship with research institutes for capacity building as well as enjoy benefits of research.
“Having discovered that the 28 agrarian local government lands in the state are suitable for rice cultivation, our association is encouraged to further develop and popularise rice production in the state.
“Establishment of new and upgrading of existing processing units, either small or medium scale, is our focus.”
He, however, identified herdsmen invasion on farms as the major challenge faced by the farmers in the state.
“We also need availability of light mechanical farm implements like power tillers, planters, harvesters, premium quality herbicides, among others.
“If we are efficiently supported, we will surely boost the quality of our production and satisfy the country adequately.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Anthony Odiong: Nigerian Catholic priest sentenced to life in prison over sexual assault")
