Govt Plans Mass Production of Rice

Ebonyi State government yesterday said it will embark on commercial rice farming, starting from this year's planting season.

This is in line with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)'s policy directive that any state controlled by the party should major in at least one export crop.

Governor Martin Elechi, announced this while declaring open a one-day stakeholders sensitisation forum on agriculture, at the Women Development Centre (WDC), Abakaliki, yesterday.

He directed local government chairmen to assemble their tractors in readiness for expanded rice farming. Elechi said his administration would not take it kindly with any council chairman who do not abide by the new police directive, adding that government would declare the area that performs best in agriculture this farming season the economic empowerment zone of the state.