The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources  in Delta State, Misan Ukubeyinje has said that the State Government will utilise River Ethiope for the irrigation of 200 hectares of land for maize farming.

Ukubeyinje said that the farm would be sited at Abraka, in Ethiope East Local Government, adding that the irrigation was intended for the improvement of maize production in the state.

The commissioner, who inspected the said at Abraka, Delta State, that the irrigation would enable maize farmers to plant all year round.

Aside from meeting the high demand for maize in the state, the measure, he said, would also provide jobs for the people and attract revenue to the government.

According to him, government will provide the needed facilities that will enable the farmers to tap from River Ethiope, which is near to the farm and will also provide water, especially during the dry season.

Admitting that the irrigation process was capital intensive, he said that the State Government would embark on it to ensure that maize production was sustained, with farmers planting the crop at least three times annually.

He also said that government would liaise with the Tractor-hiring Agency of the state to make tractors available to the farmers to clear and prepare land for planting.

“The maize farm is significant to us because maize remains a major component in feed mills production and with the early maturing varieties, it can be planted four times in a year.

“The State Government will give the farmers support while the Federal Government will provide them with high-yielding seedlings,’’ the commissioner said.

He also disclosed that the government would establish a cassava processing mill with 3,000 metric tonnes capacity at Abraka, saying it was also government’s intention to promote cassava production.