The Jigawa Government says it has clustered 1,000 youth to cultivate 500 hectares of land for the cultivation of rice in Miga and Kaugama Local Government Areas of the state.
Alhaji Jamilu Usaman-Danmalam, the Special Assistant to Gov. Muhammad Badaru on Rice Production and Value Change, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Tuesday.
Usman-Danmalam also said that the youth would be engaged to grow rice on the state government-owned Fadama sites in Tsagewa, Yalo, Damomuwa, Jamaga and Kurgel villages of the two LGAs.
He further said the sites were cleared and demarcated, adding that two youths were engaged to cultivate two hectares.
The governor’s aide also told NAN that the exercise would be conducted under the state government’s Cluster Farming Scheme, initiated to empower youths become self reliant.
According to him, government has concluded all arrangements for the exercise, adding that all the inputs are on ground.
Usman-Danmalam further said 1,700 tube wells had been sunk by the state government at the FADAMA sites to ensure availability of water for the rice cultivation.
“We have gone far in compiling the names of the beneficiaries and as soon as we are through, we will distribute the items for them to commence.
‘‘This is part of plans by this administration, under Gov. Muhammed Badaru, to empower and encourage youths, to go into farming.
“The scheme will enable the beneficiaries become self-reliant; it will also make agriculture attractive and acceptable to youths in the state.
“It is also to encourage dry season rice production under the state’s government cluster/group farming initiative.
The governor’s aide promised that the state government would provide the youth with seeds, fertiliser, insecticide, water pumps and fuel at subsidised prices.
NAN reports that Jigawa government is also executing similar programme in Birninkudu LocalGgovernment Area, where it empowered 400 youths to cultivate 200 hectares of rice.
The programme is being done on the state-owned Farara-Zuma Fadama site in the area.
According to the special assistant, the youth would pay back the soft loan after they must have cultivated and sold the rice.
‘‘After the exercise, the off-takers will come and buy from the youth, then, we will take our money for the provision of farm inputs.
‘’The youth will get their share too,’’ he said.
(NAN)