Africa’s biggest rice mill commences operation
The commissioning, this week of a 105,000 metric tonnes capacity rice mill in Rukubi, Nasarawa State,has opened a new chapter in efforts to produce rice in Nigeria.
In his speech at the occasion, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Dr. Akinwumi Adesina said Nigeria is driving a policy that will turn it away from being a rice importing country to a major rice exporter.
According to him, the investment by Olam Farm in an integrated rice mill will help boost domestic production and milling of rice of international grade in Nigeria.
“This is a clear demonstration that our approach of taking agriculture as a business to drive growth of agriculture is working,” Adesina said.
Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of the state expressed appreciation to the management of Olam Farms and the government of Singapore for siting the project in the state.
“I am indeed very proud and excited that this laudable and world class project has come to fruition and it’s being in my state of Nasarawa. Olam has taken the state to greater heights,” he said.
Olam’s Managing Director for Africa and Middle East Venkataramani Srivathsan said the commissioning of Africa’s biggest rice mill demonstrates how large-scale commercial farms can work hand-in-hand with small holders to help advance Nigeria’s agricultural agenda and generating rural prosperity through local processing.
The integrated rice milling facility, situated at the heart of Olam’s 6,000-hectare Greenfield irrigated and mechanised paddy farm, will provide 36,000 metric tonnes of milled rice every year. The Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, has said Nigeria will embrace the use of science and technology in food production.
The Minister gave this indication when he received the Deputy Director-General, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mr. Kwaku Aning, in Abuja recently.
The minister explained that the use of irradiation technology will help in mutation breeding, saying that the application of nuclear techniques in characterization of food contaminants and pollutant would assure food safety.
Dr. Adesina stated that Nigeria as a country is facing so many challenges, but promised to use all available tools to solve food problems in Nigeria. According to the Minister, “The time has come to separate noisemakers from scientists.”
Dr. Adesina explained that the specification in Nigeria’s update Country Programme Framework (CPF) with the IAEA for the period 2012-2017 was signed in February 14, 2013. The major priority area for technical co-operation relates to transfer and application of nuclear technology in food and agriculture.
Earlier in his remarks, IAEA’s Deputy Director-General, stated that his visit was to identify the areas of focus for partnership with the ministry, adding that IAEA’s mission was to speed up motion, saying their technology in agriculture is very large.
Mr. Aning said IAEA offers assistance in Research and Development in irradiation technology and other related fields such as Capacity Building, Manpower Development and Training in Irradiation Technology, Demonstration of radiation on food processing, including Agricultural and Industrial products for commercial purposes.