Victor Efeizomor
29 November 2008
Asaba — Delta State Government has set aside N12 billion to kick start an integrated rice farm that seeks to produce and process mainly table rice for onshore and offshore market as well as to cushion the effect of global economic meltdown.
The project, which starts next month, which has provision for the production of cross crop, including cassava and maize, is located in the wetland of Jakpa, in Warri North council area of the state.
The state commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Tabs Ogaranya, who dropped the hint at the weekend in Asaba, said the farm is the product of the business intercourse between the state government, host community (Jakpa), and Transformation Pishonfield, a Nigeria-registered firm operated by Vietnamese.
Ogaranya stated that 10,000 hectares of land have been provided for the project and that phase one of the farm work, which begins in the first this week, will include deployment of heavy-duty equipment for the cite clearing, ploughing, preparation and zonification as well as the provision of new rice nurseries and transplantation for the commencement of work.
According to Ogaranay, the second phase of the project is the planting and designing of new irrigation system, provision of water and reconstruction of irrigation canals to prepare for the cultivation of other cross crops.He also said as part of government's commitment to the effective take-off of the farm, definite contacts had made with the leadership of the host community for the provision of wholesome assistance, including adequate security for the movement of equipment from Koko to Jakpa. He added that about 1000 jobs would be crated within the community while the project last, including 500 Vietnamese and 50 experts in rice farming and processing.
He further explained that the farm, which runs on private, public partnership, would ensure that the community provides the land for the project, the state government provides the strategies and the enabling environment for its smooth operations while the third partner, Transformation Pishonefield provides the financial and technical muscle for the farm.
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