Minna — Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu has said that the state can produce up to 50 percent rice consumed in Nigeria.

Aliyu, who said this at a workshop on rice production in Niger, said the state would embark on irrigation farming all year round to boost production. The governor, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Agriculture Alhaji Aminu Yusuf said the Kainji, Shiroro Dam and Jebba River would be used for the irrigation farming.

"The state government also has plans to woo prospective investors to invest in irrigation farming, especially as the country is experiencing global warming," he said.

Aliyu urged the workshop participants to deliberate on how best to handle the climate change, which he said if not checked, could lead to food scarcity in the future.

"We need to increase the adaptability of the state and country to climate change effects and I urge our scientists to develop rice varieties that will be resistant to flood and drought", he said.

Earlier, the Director General, National Productivity Centre Abuja, Dr Paul Bdliya, said the objective of the workshop was to bring together stakeholders in rice production and equip them with practical knowledge on rice production, processing and distribution.