When he assumed office as the Executive Governor of Kwara State on May 29, 2003, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki left no one in doubt as regards his determination to roll back the frontiers of poverty and hunger, and uplift the quality of life of the people in the shortest possible time-frame.

Armed with people-oriented blueprint and having assembled a competent team to transform his vision for the state into reality, Governor Saraki embarked on the Back-to-Farm programme as one of the priorities of his administration.

Thursday, March 3, 2005 opened a new vista of great expectations for the people of Kwara State and Nigeria as a whole. That was the day of the official flagging-off of rice planting under the state government/Vee Tee Group Rice Production project at Duku-Lade Irrigation Scheme site in Patigi Local Government Area.

For the people, especially those in the local government area, it's a new dawn. After neglect for about 45 years, the irrigation scheme at Duku-Lade, commissioned in 1960 to supplement rain water which hitherto was not sufficient for rice production in the area, was rehabilitated by the Saraki administration as part of its efforts to transform agriculture in Nigeria. The effort has since been yielding fruits not only because of the partnership between the state government and the VeeTee Group towards ensuring double harvest of rice twice in a year through the irrigation scheme, but with the final commencement of the project amid pomp and pageantry.

The flagging-off of the rice production programme by Governor Saraki was not only historic, but a by-product of commitment and determination in improving the living standard of the people and promoting balanced economic growth. The governor noted at the occasion that “the tremendous interest shown by investors and farmers, as is being demonstrated here today has vindicated our decision to restore life to the scheme and make it a major element of our agricultural programme.”

Through the irrigation project, he explained that his administration was adopting a more technical approach to rice production that would guarantee efficiency of the production process, introduction of high-yield rice varieties and the use of modern post harvest processing methods. He added that the demonstrated interest of investors and farmers alike, is a measure of the confidence and high expectations in this project.

The main goal of the project is the production of rice seeds and grains with asset target of 18,000 metric tonnes of rice at the first instance. The need to harness the enormous potentials of the agriculture sector, Governor Saraki pointed out, is even more urgent in the state where he disclosed that the federal allocations form about 80 per cent of total revenue and about 75 per cent of its people in formal employment are civil servants.

Having being encouraged by the goals of the presidential initiative on rice production in Nigeria, the Vee Tee Group was invited by Governor Saraki to partner with the state government on the project. Farmers have since then been encouraged to plant selected varieties of rice under the technical management of the Vee Tee Group. The governor had stressed that the economic empowerment of the local farmers is a paramount component of the rice production programme.

The programme, Governor Saraki explained is based on a tripartite arrangement under which government will provide the required infrastructure while the Vee Tee Group on its part, will provide the expertise and technical information to facilitate production and marketing of the products as well as providing the farmers a guaranteed price for their products. The farmers on their part will own the plots and maintain them with inputs to be provided by the Vee Tee Group.

The governor, however, pledged that the provision of agricultural infrastructures would remain a continuous exercise, pointing out that his administration had resolved to ensure sustainable large-scale mechanized production along side farmers with small-scale holdings. “We have pursued our vision of a new agricultural dawn with unparalleled zeal and tenacity of purpose. We are determined to remove every hurdle on our path to realizing that vision, with great understanding and in partnership with our local and foreign investors, as well as with our host communities”, he explained.

While commending the Vee Tee Group and the project's financiers for their interest and support to the programme, Governor Saraki particularly saluted the community leaders for ensuring that the rehabilitation of the irrigation scheme and utilisation of the facilities were carried out in an atmosphere of understanding and cordiality. To the farmers, he appealed to them to take the facilities as their own property and handle with proper care.

The Managing Director of Vee Tee Group, Dr. D.K. Mehan explained that they came to Nigeria in August 2002 on the invitation of President Olusegun Obasanjo to come and improve rice production in the country. He later advised the President that the project is better being carried out in the rural areas so that local farmers could benefit from their expertise and have increased yields.

Although the group commenced operation in April 2003 in Nigeria, it was invited to Kwara State in 2004 to partner with government on the rehabilitation of the Duku-Lade irrigation Scheme and started production on a 50 hectares of irrigated rice land out of over 100hectares that had already been leveled.

Dr. Mehan, who thanked the governor for his support towards the success of the programme, promised covering of the remaining hectares next season and increased production all year round in the state.

According to the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Ja'afaru Bio Ibrahim in an address, “the main objective of the present administration towards the revitalization of the already moribund irrigation scheme, was to bring under cultivation, the entire 800 hectares both under supplementary irrigation in the rainy season and dry season irrigation farming for the benefit of all the farmers thus making rice production possible twice in a year”. Apart from creating job opportunities for the teeming youths, he pointed out that the scheme would also bring into being agro based industries.

To achieve these and others like food security and curtailing of rural-urban migration, the commissioner disclosed that the state government awarded contract for the scheme's rehabilitation to JADES Ventures Nig. Ltd at a cost of N62 million and another N23 million for additional works for the Vee Tee Group while N7 million was spent on the access roads.

Hon. Ibrahim hinted that the rehabilitation work has reached 75 per cent level of completion and has started yielding fruitful results as many farmers are now in a position to produce rice in large quantities compared to the low yields witnessed in previous years. Similarly, more hectares are being cultivated by rice farmers due to the rehabilitation works of the scheme site.

With the flagging –off of the scheme, he maintained that Kwara has led other rice production states in the country. And in furtherance of its effort towards increasing production of high quality rice that would be comparable with imported rice, the state government has involved foreign investors for the introduction of improved varieties of rice suitable for the lowland and upland areas of the state, transfer of modern technology in rice production, and training of rice farmers.

The company is also expected to provide ready-made markets with prices that ranges between 10 and 15 percent above the prevailing market price of rice while the Vee Tee Group would bring into the state a $14 million rice mill where harvested rice would be processed since the yield would rise from the present one tone per hectare to at least three tones per hectare.

According to the commissioner, apart from farm inputs like fertilizers and agro-chemicals, the state government had made provision for drying platforms, farmers' meeting rooms, rotorators, threashers, a warehouse and dryers among others. He added that government has also employed 18 irrigators and two hydro metrological assistants.

While disclosing that all arrangements had been completed by the government with financial institutions for loans at moderate interest for the rice farmers to enhance production, he appealed to the host communities to make judicious use of all facilities provided “so that Kwara State will not only be a food basket of rice, but a rice exporting state,” he said.

The Chairman of Patigi Local Government Area, Architect Thomas Audu Gana in his speech expressed appreciation to the state governor for his visionary leadership, especially in transforming agriculture to reduce poverty and hunger in the state and the country as a whole.

Gana noted that the rehabilitation of the irrigation scheme by the present administration was a clear manifestation of its genuine Back-to-Farm programme aimed at turning around the state's economy.

He, however, assured Governor Saraki that “the sinister's move of our detractors who are enemies of progress is baseless.”

Apparently reacting to the wolf cry by critics and propagandist, the chairman said: “The people of Patigi whole-heartedly and willingly release the land for the irrigation scheme that is to enhance mechanized rice farming in a large scale and to create more job opportunities for our people. His royal Highness, the Etsu Patigi and his people are ready to co-operate with the government if there is need for further expansion of the farmland”.

He, however, appealed to the state government to speed up action on the resuscitation of Patigi Rice Mill in order to facilitate rice processing and packaging in the area.

Speaking in the same vein, the Etsu Patigi, Alhaji Ibrahim Chatta Umar thanked Governor Saraki for the rehabilitation of the irrigation scheme which he regretted was abandoned for decades by the previous administrations.

The traditional ruler described the governor as a good leader who always speak the truth, fulfill his promises to the people of the state and a youthful governor who loves his people and wants the best for them at all times.

Apart from the irrigators and hydro-metrological assistants employed by te government and presented with identity cards at the colourful ceremony, 77 rice farmers were engaged for the pilot irrigation scheme to achieve double cropping and harvesting annually.