From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has said that the state government has earmarked 12,000 hectares of land for rice cultivation in the state
Towards this, Mutfwang said the government has procured 200 trucks of fertiliser for farmers in the state.
In his broadcast to the people to mark his one year in office, Mutfwang said that 4,000 hectares will be mapped out in each of the three senatorial zones in the state for this purpose.
The governor said it was part of the strategy to resettle those displaced from their ancestral homes
He said, “In agriculture, we have procured over 200 trucks of fertilizers for our farmers while efforts are on to purchase more.
“We have equally trained 340 vibrant youths and equipped them with modern agricultural techniques. The initiative was to launch the state into commercial agriculture and ensure efficient contribution to national food security.
“We have mapped out plans to develop 4,000 hectares of land in each of the five principal crop zones of the state.
“These zones are designated for rice cultivation in Wase, Shendam, Langtang North, Langtang South, and Qua’an Pan LGAs; maize in Mangu, Bokkos, and Barkin Ladi LGAs; wheat in Bassa and Jos North LGAs; potatoes in Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom LGAs; and vegetables in Jos North, Jos South, and Riyom Local Government Areas respectively.
On security, Mutfwang said that his administration has reactivated the previously dormant state-owned security outfit—Operation Rainbow with the re-training of over 600 personnel, meticulously chosen across the state.
According to him, “Such measures have rendered the state security outfit highly responsive and proactive in addressing community-level security challenges. Furthermore, the administration has unveiled the State Security and Information Center, where citizens can report security concerns via a toll-free line.
“This center enables the government to receive timely information on pressing security issues from different communities, both urban and rural in order to ensure swift action. It is in the light of these measures that we have initiated the home return of our Internally Displaced Persons, ensuring they return to lands that await their toil and harvest without hitches”