Plateau state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Steve Bako has said that the state will start exporting rice by 2015. He was speaking in Jos on Thursday and stated that measures have been put in place to achieve the target.

Bako said that Plateau had enough wetland for rice production across its three senatorial zones citing the local governments of Kanam, Mikang, Langtang North, Langtang South, Shendam and Quan Pan as some of the lowland areas.

Plateau state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Steve Bako has said that the state will start exporting rice by 2015. He was speaking in Jos on Thursday and stated that measures have been put in place to achieve the target.

Bako said that Plateau had enough wetland for rice production across its three senatorial zones citing the local governments of Kanam, Mikang, Langtang North, Langtang South, Shendam and Quan Pan as some of the lowland areas.

The commissioner stated that Nigeria as a country should not be importing rice to feed its people because it has vast potential to produce enough for the populace while exporting the surplus. He said that the right structure should be put in place to encourage production in large quantities to achieve that objective.

Bako said that the state government would drive the rice value chain using its Agricultural Services Training Centres (ASTC). He said that government would provide the infrastructure and right atmosphere needed as the sector is 90 per cent private sector driven.

He said that the government had provided needed mechanised components to assist farmers meet the demands of mechanised agriculture for export.

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Plateau to start exporting rice by 2015