Edo’ll produce Ekpoma, Illushi rice to feed Nigeria, reveals Umakhihe

A retired Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, said Edo State has the capacity to feed Nigeria through the cultivation of rice.

Umakhile also said he has capacity to revive agriculture in the state, just as he encouraged women and youths to go into rice farming, which Edo State, particularly, Esanland, is known for.

While saying the state is known for its rich rice production, especially ‘Ekpoma Rice’ and ‘Illushi Rice’, Umakhihe vowed to restore the old days when both species were among the best local rice produced in the country.

He expressed sadness that rice farming is no longer booming in Edo State owing to government’s neglect of agriculture.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain said several communities across the Edo Central Senatorial district of the state were highly reputed for growing the popular Ekpoma and Ilushi rice, which according to him, is no more.

While promising to sink boreholes in the rural communities to ensure adequate food supply and potable water to the people, Umakhihe said the major challenges facing people in Edo Central is lack of water for human consumption and for farming purposes, as well as bad roads to convey their food produce to the market, among others.

The governorship aspirant on the platform of the APC in Edo, said, “I have the blueprint for the development of Edo State. I know Esanland is known for rice farming. Before now, we used to hear of Ekpoma and Illushi rice, but no more. I will bring back irrigation system of farming to boost farming in Esanland. In the Northern part of the country, irrigation is what they use for their farms. We can also do it in Edo State to improve our farming to boost productivity,” he said.