The Nasarawa State government has trained more than 500 farmers on rice production and the use of necessary technology that will aid production, under the state’s Rice Post-Harvest Processing and Marketing Pilot Project.

At the inauguration of the incubation plant for the project in Lafia, the state capital, Governor Tanko Al-Makura said that the purpose of establishing the plant was to improve the quality of domestic rice.

It is also aimed at sustaining food security, broadening employment opportunities and creating wealth.

Governor Al-Makura explained that his administration would collaborate with private investors to produce over 6,000 hectares of rice to boost food sufficiency.

The state government had committed over 80 million Naira to the project since inception in 2011.

The project is established under a partnership between the Federal Government, the Japanese government, Niger and Nasarawa State governments.

This project is designed to encourage mechanised rice processing which can compete with international brands.