To ensure massive rice production in the country, the Third National Fadama Development project is collaborating with the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanism (NCAM) and Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria via an international initiative to boost rice production using simple cultivation technology.
The National Project Coordinator of Fadama project, Mr. Bukar Tijani who disclosed this while speaking during the collaborative meeting in Abuja, explained that the Fadam project is specifically designed to increase the incomes of users of rural land and water resources on a sustainable basis.

He explained the aim of the collaboration was to further improve rice production as an integral part of the mandate of the project towards reducing poverty, unemployment through improved agricultural activities particularly in the rural areas as a means ensuring food security.

The Fadama III Project and NCAM according him would work closely to ensure that Fadama groups are well trained for the adoption of the technology, which provides for a simple method of rice farming through bounding, pudding, levelling and smoothening of the soil.

In his remarks, the Acting Executive Director, National Centre for Agricultural Mechanism (NCAM), Engineer Ike Azogu, explained that the organisation would collaborate with the Fadama project under an improved rice production technology known as ‘SAWAH’ Technology Project.

The technology he said places high emphasis on water, soil fertility and weed management to achieve higher yields was said to has been domiciled in NCAM for the last eight years.

Engr. Azogu stressed further that, because of the close linkage of Fadama III project with farming communities was considered a veritable platform on whcich the technology could thrive effectively taking into cognisance its wide coverage of about 641 local government areas in Nigeria.

The Federal Government is to provide 600 hectares of land to cattle rearers under its grazing reserve project in Katsina State.
Dr Aminu Umar, the Project Manager, National Livestock Project, made the announcement in Runka village, Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State, during an inspection tour of the project.

Strong protest from Insurance brokers is trailing the Federal Government’s Group Life Insurance Scheme (GLIS). The protest is over the selection of insurance companies to insure federal government properties across the country for 2010.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), yesterday, said there is no limit on shareholdings in Nigeria banks and that it has not set credit approval limits for banks and discount houses.

The effects of the global food, fuel and economic crisis would be felt by Africa’s people for some time yet and it was important to persist with efforts to protect the most vulnerable while laying the foundations for future productivity and growth, World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick said Tuesday