President and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has opted for the Brazilian model in rice production through the hiring of Brazilian expert, Vanguard reports.


The model which was used by Brazil to transform the country from an importing nation in the year 2000 to a net exporter in the year of 2009 is planned to be replicated in Nigeria. To this, Mr. Lulu Carlos, the Brazilian, has been engaged to serves as  as Special Adviser to Alhaji Aliko Dangote on Rice and Coordinator of Dangote Rice Farm Ltd’s out growers’ scheme.

This was part of the statement released by the company. The pilot test of the model is said to be carried out in Hago-Fadama, Kafin Hausa and Auyo community in Jigawa state.

“We are happy to start the first phase of the out growers bloc of 200 hectares, shared among 8 communities. I’ve seen the same project born in my country, Brazil, whereby from 2.5metric tons in the beginning to today where we reached 9 tons of paddy rice per hectare in productivity.

“This has transformed my country (Brazil) from a net importer of Rice in the year 2000 to a net exporter in the year of 2009. This was achieved through a big out grower scheme in the rice region, which today involves thousands of independent farmers responsible for 80 percent of the 12 million tons locally produced rice and a small number of large Commercial farms supplying the remaining 20 percent,” Carlos  said.

According to Carlos, “Alhaji Aliko has    instructed me to conduct the project here for at least 30 percent from out growers and 70 percent from our commercial farm to be established in the state.  But this is not our limit. We are convinced that this equation will have more and more out growers’ participation in the future, due to very good and welcome response we are getting from all the communities we are dealing with.

“We are bringing to the people top quality seeds, fertilizers and chemicals as well the training and teaching the best and most modern agricultural practices, to enable you to boost your productivity and quality of your rice.  We are also committed to roll out the scheme to cover another 1,000 hectares for the coming rainy season in June / July, using the experience of this first plot to guide our progress,” Carlos explained.