‘Agric mechanization: solution to food insecurity, unemployment’

  Nigeria to export rice in two years----Minister

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono & the Executive Governor of  Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono has stated that agricultural mechanization is the solution to unemployment and food insufficiency in Nigeria. This was contained in a press statement issued and made available to Food Farm News by Ezeaja Ikemefuna on behalf of director of Information in the ministry.

The Minister reportedly made the statement during a courtesy visit he paid to the Executive Governor of  Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun in Government House, Abeokuta.

Alhaji Nanono told the Governor that the Federal Government would commence Agricultural Mechanization initiative in the next three to four months, "the programme will be private sector driven and that government would only create the enabling environment and offer assistance where necessary.”

He reiterated that the programme would have service centres across the country, 140 processing centres, and it would enhance production, create more jobs and grow the nation's internally generated revenue.

Nanono noted that Ogun State was paramount in cocoa and Rice production and there is need to revive the cocoa industry in particular. Said he, "we must develop new cocoa varieties in Nigeria because the new cocoa varieties will yield in 2 1/2 years. The policy is expected to involve a full technology package transfer that will cover all stages, from agricultural production to industrial processing, packaging and marketing.”

The governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun said that the minister had in-depth knowledge of the sector and that Mr. President made the right decision by appointing him as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development adding that his state had already keyed into FG programme on agribusiness towards food security.

He informed that there was massive investment in capacity building especially in extension services, which aims at improving yields in farm products like cassava, maize, cotton, rice, among others, pointed that the State run background checks for the extension service workers to ensure accountability and transparency.

In a related development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono has stated that Nigeria would start to export her brand of Rice in the next two Years. The Minister reportedly made this disclosure during a press conference after a working visit of the Nestle Nigeria Plc Office in Lagos recently. 

Alhaji Nanono noted that the Country's land border closure had resulted in increased outputs by many rice milling plants which were operating below capacities before the closure.

The Minister pointed out that with the improved production rate, Nigerian rice would soon be exported saying that " before the closure of our land border, most of these rice milling plants were partially operating, but now, they not only operate in full capacities but are also expanding. If we maintain the momentum in the next two years, we may export rice to other countries ".

He also said that " I was worried in terms of the production of rice, but what I have found out is that most rice producers have stocked rice for the next six months. This means that before the stock is finished, dry season rice will be harvested, and before that finishes, rainy season will come back. "

He stressed that it is only in three months from November to January that rice is not being grown in our country. According to the Minister, " we cultivate rice in a nine- month  cycle; probably as we move on the cycle will widen, so we do not have a problem with rice processing.” 

He also said that there had been expansion of local rice Value Chain as well as the creation of more jobs due to increase in rice production."As at today, we have 11 rice milling plants with the capacity to produce from 180 tonnes to 350 tonnes of rice per day.”

“In a few months, another mill with a capacity to produce 400 tonnes of rice per day is going to be opened, with another upcoming 34 smaller mills; then, we have clusters in different areas " , the Minister observed. 

He added that the local rice farmers were fully engaged and used between 200 farm lands and 300 farm lands directly and lauded Nestle Nigeria PLC for its role in assisting local farmers and creating jobs for Nigerians.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nestle Nigeria  PLC, Mr. Mauricio Alarcon, thanked the Minister and his delegation for the visit and called for stronger and robust working relationship with the Ministry adding that there were much opportunities for collaboration in Nigeria. 

 Alarcon said that " we source 80% of our products locally, we source 100% of Maize for Golden Morn, locally; soya, millet, sugar, salt and cocoa are locally-  sourced".