Vanguard
13 December 2008
RICE farmers in the North-West geo-political zone of Nigeria have been assured of total support and cooperation towards encouraging them to adopt scientific agricultural practices through mechanized farming.
Popular Foods, a division of Stallion Group has identified Kano as the most vibrant state in terms of rice production and that is the reason why we are establishing a new state-of-the-art rice milling industry here in Kano with the view to boost production in the zone.
Mr. Vinay Tuteja, managing director of Popular Foods made the remarks recently at a one-day seminar on improved rice production for farmers and other stakeholders in the state.
The seminar, which was jointly organized between the Nigerian-based Indian company and the Kano state branch of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), spoke on the need for stakeholders to be deeply involved in the collective efforts towards improving rice production as a means of providing food security in the country.
Speaking further on the proposed rice milling industry in the state, Mr. Tuteja said the company's decision to establish the firm in Kano was informed by the fact that, apart from its position as the centre of commerce and industry, "Kano is surrounded by the major rice producing states of Katsina, Jigawa, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara."
According to the managing director, the company is satisfied with the state government's policy in encouraging Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and the level of structures put in place by it, saying that, in the next four-five years, Kano state will surely be the hub of rice production, not only in the country but the entire West African sub-region.
"Now that the state government is making effort towards building a rice processing zone at Kura local government area of the state, such steps will not only promote export but complement the company's effort to boosting local production in the region," he said.
He further said that the company's vision is to make Kano a rice barn for the African sub-region in order to meet the demand for rice consumption in the region. For the company to actualise this vision, it is now working with its technical partners from India, Bangkok and Thailand.
Mr. Vinay explained that this new production development will provide employment opportunities to many unemployed citizens.
"The proposed rice milling plant if fully installed will run for 24 hours with a capacity production of an estimated twelve tons per hour daily, approximately 240 tons within the first year of operations, the first of its kind in the country," Mr Vinay explained.
He called on local rice farmers in the state to avail themselves with this opportunity the company is willing to provide, adding that the company intends to join hands with stakeholders and local farmers with the view to identifying their needs in rice production.
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