(Ecofin Agency) - The Government of Bauchi State has revealed plans to assist rice farmers across the state in cultivating 4, 000 hectares of staple crops.

Yakubu Kirfi, state commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, who spoke on behalf of the governor, during the launching of the 2017 Fadama III additional financing for dry season rice farming in Bauchi, said the state cultivated 2,500 hectares in 2016 and plans to do more.

According to him, Bauchi is the only state in the north-east region that has the mandate of the national Fadama development project, to produce rice and sorghum.

He noted that the programme which is a joint effort of the federal government and the World Bank is aimed at increasing food production and generating employment for youths.

In this framework, the state government has approved the payment of its annual counterpart contribution of N55million ($176, 000) of which N20 million is intended for food security and livelihood emergency support under the Fadama III project for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.

Meanwhile “the World Bank through the national Fadama development project provided the sum of $200 million for the implementation of the Fadama III additional financing in some selected states, Bauchi state inclusive. The objective of the additional financing is to boost dry season farming as well as increase the income of land users on a sustainable manner,” Kirfi said.

Anita Fatunji