By Douglas Okoro Abakaliki, July 14, 2021 Federal Government Wednesday distributed 150 bags of improved variety of rice seedling and other inputs to farmers in Ebonyi. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Nanono, said the gesture was intended to boost wet season rice farming in the state. According to him, the programme is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The minister, represented by a director in the ministry, Mrs Khalima Babangida, said the items were freely distributed to farmers to boost rice production. Babangida, was also represented by another senior official of the ministry, Mr Augustine Okezie.