Ebonyi borrows N10bn to establish ‘Mega Rice Cities’

In a bid to support farmers and domesticate rice production, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has said the state government borrowed N10 billion from the Federal Government to finance agricultural activities in the state.


Umahi who disclosed this while speaking to newsmen in Abakaliki last week said the state government intends to boost rice production through the establishment of ‘Mega Rice Cities’ in all the local government areas of the state.

“We have also borrowed some funds under CARTS from the Federal Government. We borrowed N2 Billion, we will be paying off in the next 3 months, of course we borrowed another N5 billion and another N3 billion.

“We want to domesticate rice production in Ebonyi State and we are going beyond individual production. We are now beginning to see how we can institute what we call rice mega cities in each local government area where by we have 5,000 hectares of land dedicated for rice production in each of our local government areas.

“Already, we have four rice mills that are in operation and you also see private people that are milling with their traditional machines. We have imported another three sets of rice mills which we will install in the next three to four months and our idea is that before the middle of next year, we will be able to have one rice mill in each local government area.”



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