The Accord gubernatorial candidate in Taraba State, Prof. Jerome Nyameh, has unveiled an agricultural development plan aimed at transforming the state into one of Nigeria’s leading rice-producing states and creating thousands of jobs for young people.
Prof. Nyameh, who described agriculture as a key component of his proposed Taraba’s Therapy Agenda, said his administration would focus on harnessing the state’s fertile land and abundant water resources to expand rice production and generate sustainable wealth.
According to him, the agricultural programme would place particular emphasis on major rice-producing local government areas, including Karim Lamido, Lau, Ardo Kola, Gassol, Bali, Donga, Wukari and Ibi.
A major component of the plan, he said, would be the expansion of dry-season irrigation farming to ensure that rice is cultivated throughout the year rather than relying primarily on a single rainy-season harvest.
“Rather than depending on only one rainy-season harvest, we will produce rice throughout the year, increasing productivity, strengthening food security, and generating sustainable wealth,” Prof. Nyameh said.
The Accord candidate said the policy is designed not only to increase agricultural output but also to tackle youth unemployment and poverty by creating opportunities across the agricultural value chain.
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He said young people would be encouraged and supported to become agripreneurs and business owners rather than relying solely on government employment.
“Agriculture is more than just food production. It is one of the fastest ways to create employment, reduce poverty, and build a prosperous economy,” he said.
Nyameh identified 11 major areas within the rice value chain where employment and business opportunities could be created.
These include farm input supply, irrigation services, cultivation, harvesting and transportation, milling and processing, packaging and branding, storage and warehousing, marketing and retail, export, equipment maintenance, and logistics and distribution.
He said each segment of the value chain represented an opportunity for job creation, increased economic activity and improved revenue for the state.
Prof. Nyameh added that his agricultural policy would not be limited to rice production, noting that similar initiatives had been developed for other crops and livestock farming.
He said the broader objective of his proposed policy framework is to move young people from unemployment and dependence on government jobs towards self-employment, entrepreneurship and wealth creation.
“The youth will be self-employed and create wealth for themselves, rather than solely depending on government jobs,” Prof. Nyameh said.
The governorship candidate described the proposed agricultural transformation programme as part of a broader strategy to unlock the state’s economic potential by leveraging its natural resources and human capital.
