The Nasarawa State Government is partnering with six other rice producing states in the country for the production and export of the commodity.

The states are Niger, Sokoto, Kwara, Kogi, Nasarawa, Zamfara and Kebbi.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seven states were working together “because they have a common FADAMA belt due to the Rima River that passes through the states,''.

The report, said the move, according to governors of the states, became imperative due to the increasing demand for rice, adding that the solution to the soaring price of rice was mass production through mechanised farming.

The governors said the report, have forged a common front toward repositioning rice production. The report quoted a source close to the governors saying, “this will be of great advantage to us because we have the land, climate, established markets and improved varieties”. The governors, explained the source, were working “towards the steady transformation of rice production and marketing techniques”.

The report stated that governments of the seven states would provide financial assistance to rice farmers through their cooperative societies.

It added that the governors were currently working on a blue print for the project as well as consulting with banks and other stakeholders for a public, private sector partnership in the area of rice production, stressing that efforts would be made to enhance the production of rice seedlings and the provision of adequate irrigation facilities or earth dams for the farmers.