The Nation Newspaper

Tag: rice farming

  • Farmers begin dry season rice farming

    Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN)  has   kicked off its multi-billion naira dry season rice farming.

    Its President, Aminu Goroyo said, during the flag off in Abuja, that the project was being executed under the Central Bank on Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrowers programme (ABP).

    The president, however, said the group was working out the modalities for the fund disbursement with the bank.

    He said planting would start simultaneously in the 774 local government areas of the 36 states of the federation and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Goroyo said each state and the FCT would distribute high-breed seeds and farm input to over 700,000  farmers that were expected to cultivate 570,000 hectares.

    “To this end, for easy cultivation and good harvesting, 52 registered input suppliers, 20 service providers and 450 private extension officers will be involved.

    “The programme, being a technology-driven process, will ensure that all aspects of the farming are involved.

    “This dry season farming is in strict compliance with the use of only irrigable land with adequate irrigation facilities under the supervision of extension agents,” he said.

    Goroyo said the CBN had expressed its willingness to continue to assist RIFAN because of its success in rice production.

    He said most farmers are enthusiastic about dry season farming because they were sure of high yields.

    Goroyo stressed that the Federal Government’s decision to ban rice import was another source of encouragement as it had started yielding the desired result.

    “Nigerians are now consuming made-in-Nigeria rice, and aside that, the volume of rice smuggled has reduced to five per cent and farmers are now getting dividends and value for their efforts,” he said.

    The RIFAN chief recalled that rice production had increased from 5.5 million tonnes in 2015 to 5.8million tonnes in 2017.

    He, therefore, challenged the beneficiaries not to default in their loan repayments because it would help to grow the economy.

    “It has become a must to grow the nation’s economy and feed this country; the population is growing at a high proportion and when you pay back your loan, farmers will be on land to farm and feed.

    APB was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 17, 2015 to link anchor firms involved in processing and small holder farmers of the required key agricultural commodities to address the country’s food deficit.

  • Dangote partners Kogi on rice farming

    Dangote Rice Limited has launched a youth farming initiative in Kogi State.

    The Dangote Youth Rice Farm project, mainly an out-grower scheme for youths was flagged off at the Lower Niger River Basin Authority, Kampe, Ejiba in Yagba West Local Government Area of the state where youth have embarked on rice cultivation on over 100 hectares of land.

    The rice farm project, which was preceded by a special training for the youth farmers on the dynamics of the rice farming, will see the youths cultivating the rice paddy on a 100 hectares of land, which will then be bought over by the company for processing.

    Under the scheme, the Dangote Rice company provides the seedling, anti-pest-chemicals, and fertilizers while the Basing Authority provided the land for the young farmers.

    The management of Dangote Rice led by the Group Executive Director, Mr. Devakumar Edwin flagged off the project while taking delivery of some rice paddy bags produced from the pilot project.

  • ‘Government needs to make rice farming attractive’

    ‘Government needs to make rice farming attractive’

    Tobi Fletcher a budding entrepreneur is doing his bit to fulfil his passion in business. The microbiologist who hails from Ofada town, Obafemi Owode Area of Ogun State, famous for the production of local ofada rice sees farming as a veritable avenue to grow the economy.

    Speaking in an interview with The Nation, Fletcher lamented that it was disheartening to note that though Ofada town originally known for the production of rice but has been overran by real estate developers.

    “All the land in Ofada town that where originally used for harvesting and planting of rice has been sold and used to build residential estates and all due to its proximity to Lagos. Almost all the land there has been sold.”

    Little wonder he has decided to dedicate his time and resources towards the growth and production of the local rice. “My great grandparents were amongst the first farmers of ofada rice and they were the ones that actually discovered it, and for so long a lot has not been said about them which is the typical Nigerian way. I’ve decided to build on the legacy which they started.”

    Thankfully, he revealed that he has since set up a cafeteria that deals mainly on the local delicacy. “I actually started as a caterer of ofada rice. I cook it and serve in parties. The reason for this is because as at the time I started, I found out that almost all the ofada rice in circulation were very stony and had this foul smell and I felt it could be done a lot better so I started my own brand so I could promote the rice and make people know it can actually be done better.”

    Justifying the production of the local rice, Fletcher who is fondly called Ofada Boy by friends and associates said matter-of-factly that: “Not many people know that the unpolished rice has more health benefits than the polished rice. It’s one of the few grains cultivated without chemicals. Ofada rice emits a unique aroma when cooked. It is self-preserving and one of the foods that add value to the lives of the health-conscious people including those who are diabetic.”

    Speaking further, he said ofada rice is very beneficial for digestive system, it promotes healthy bowel movements, thereby helping to prevent constipation. “It high fibre content controls the amount of calories intake and makes it filling, thereby reducing chances of overeating and minerals, the cellulose of ofada rice not only increases the fibre content but also contains a variety of colour pigments that is beneficial for health.”

    While reiterating plans to revive the growth and production of ofada rice, he urged sons and daughters of Ofada extraction to work in unison to make this a reality.

  • Dangote to resuscitate rice farming with N165b in five states

    Dangote to resuscitate rice farming with N165b in five states

    Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) signed, at the weekend a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to invest $1 billion (about N165 billion) for the establishment of fully integrated rice production and processing operations across Nigeria.

    President Goodluck Jonathan presided over the signing ceremony.

    The MoU and the planned investment are a response to the reforms of the President’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) launched in 2011.

    Following the launch, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development worked with various stakeholders to ensure increased investments in agriculture with emphasis on private sector investments.

    Dangote has acquired farmland in Edo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, and Niger states, totalling 150,000 hectares, to be used for the commercial production of rice paddy.

    As part of the project, Dangote will also establish two modern  large-scale rice mills each with a capacity to mill 120,000 metric tonnes of rice paddy, bringing the total capacity to 240,000 metric tonnes.

    The company also plans to double the capacity within two years.

    With this installed capacity, the project will become the largest single investment in rice production in Africa.

    The rice plant is estimated to produce 960,000 metric tonnes of mill rice, representing 46 per cent of rice imported into Nigeria.

    President Jonathan hailed DIL Chief Executive, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, for building a strong industrial base in Nigeria.

    He said: “It takes a lot of hardwork, commitment and discipline to achieve the feat, accomplished by Aliko Dangote. Today is a great day for Nigeria, and this investment is worth the risk. The country is capable of producing rice that can feed the whole of West African sub-region”

    On Nigeria’s porous borders, the President vowed to end the high spate of smuggling in the next 12 months.

    He cautioned that the days of smugglers were numbered and that the Federal Government was determined to install electronic surveillance equipment that would depend less on human manipulations and interventions.

    Jonathan assured Dangote that his investment would be protected.

    Dangote hailed the government for evolving a policy that has made Nigeria an irresistible place to invest.

    The foremost industrialist urged other Nigerian entrepreneurs to join the train for making the country a haven for investments.

    Dangote said: “Our goal of making Nigeria a net exporter of rice will be achieved faster by this significant investment. I congratulate the Minister of Agriculture and his team for the very strong demonstration of public-private sector partnerships and collaboration to drive significant transformation in Nigeria’s agriculture sector.”