From: Linus Oota, Lafia

The Nasarawa State government is collaborating with the Pakistani Government on the production of basmati rice production and new rice seedlings have been procured from Pakistan.

The state government is equally proposing the establishment of institute of agriculture in Lafia, the state capital, to be saddled with the responsibility of research, adding that the effort will go a long way not only in improving the quantity but also the quality of agricultural production in the state.

Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura who stated this during the 5th combined convocation ceremony of Nasarawa State university, Keffi, further explained that the state government recently procured fertilizer blending machines for the sole purpose of producing fertilizers at a subsidised rate for local farmers.

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He explain that the commissioner of agriculture recently led a delegation from the state to Pakistan to explore ways of improving farming activities in the state, as well as collaborating with the Pakistani government to better the lots of farmers of Nasarawa state.

“New rice seedling from Pakistan have been procured and I have already directed the commissioner of agriculture to start experimenting on the possibility of Nasarawa becoming a basmati rice producer as our efforts to add value to the system” he said

The governor said government has signed a contract with a tractor manufacturing company to established a plant in the state for assembling and maintenance of tractors the company will supply not only to Nasarawa State but to be the one stop center for agric mechanisation in the entire North central zone.

On solid minerals, the governor said the state government would soon embark on its prospection through collaboration with Hyepec of China for power generation that would support the national power needs.