Birnin Kebbi The Kebbi Government would partner with the National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, Niger, to produce improved seedlings that would boost commercial rice and wheat production.
Information on the partnership is contained in a statement issued by Alhaji Abubakar Muazu, the Press Secretary to the Governor, made available in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.
The statement quoted Muazu as saying that the state governor had showed interest in buying the institute`s new variety of improved seedlings after inspecting its model farms.
He said that the institute`s Irrigation Officer, Fadeiye Olalekan, who conducted the governor round some model farms said the improved seedlings were free of diseases and capable of yielding 22 tonnes of rice per hectare.
He added that the governor had promised to distribute improved seedlings to farmers as part of efforts to produce rice in commercial quantity.
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The state government had also engaged a private consortium biotechnology firm that specialised in mechanised farming to support the state in rice and wheat production in commercial quantity.
The consultant of the firm, Dr Abdularazak Ibrahim, said that the new seedlings were introduced to the state to boost agricultural production. (NAN)