The Ebonyi State Government has procured 40 tractors to rev up its efforts to revolutionise agriculture and turn around its economic fortune. Governor David Nweze Umahi announced this during the Democracy Day Celebration and one year anniversary of his administration at the Abakaliki Township Stadium.

Umahi used the occasion to highlight the achievements of his administration, and disclosed that in view of the dwindling allocations to states from the Federation account, “we decided to emphasise rice production which the state is known for all over the world.”

The governor explained that three tractors would be allocated to each of the 13 local government areas of the state to work on about 85 hectares of land mapped out for rice cultivation across the state this farming season.

He stated that government was collaborating with IFAD to cultivate a six hectare rice farm land and FADAMA III for two hectares. The governor also informed that as part of measures to revolutionize rice production in the state, his administration had taken delivery of three rice parboiling machines procured by the previous administration in the state.

Umahi added that the installation of the parboiling machines at the three state-owned modern rice mills in Ikwo, Izzi and Oso Edda had commenced. The governor noted that the government was partnering UNIDO to install another modern rice mill that would be handed over to the Abakaliki Rice Millers when fully installed.

He assured that the N2bn Federal Government Loan for rice production was intact and would be disbursed to genuine farmers who met the conditions attached to it.

Umahi further stated that the government would give out seeds, fertilizer and chemicals worth over N400m to farmers as loan this farming season.

He also disclosed that the government had signed an agreement with Union Dicon Salt Plc. for the establishment of a cassava farm and a cassava processing factory in the state.

Engr. Umahi also hinted that the government had introduced school agriculture, and is currently working on three schools as pilot farms in each of the three senatorial zones. The governor stated that all the available land at the permanent site of the state university had been converted to tomato farmland for massive production of tomatoes for domestic and international consumption.

On youth and women empowerment, the governor informed that empowerment of the youths and women would be the focus of government in the coming months. He stated that government had set aside N500 million in addition to the N3 billion earlier mapped out for the re-settlement of youths of the state engaged in street hawking in major cities across the country.

•Photo shows Governor Umahi.