Nigeria
RAFFSA AGRIC CHAIN VALUE

Category: NEWS & EVENTS

RAFFSA AGRIC CHAIN VALUE > NEWS & EVENTS
09 May 2018
0 Comments By admin NEWS & EVENTS , , ,

Lagos State Govt to commence rice mill production in 2019

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday disclosed that the ongoing rice mill project in Imota Local Council Development Area would be ready for production in February 2019.

The statement was made available to pressmen by the Chief Press Secretary of the State, Mr Habib Aruna at an inspection tour of major projects in the Ikorodu, Imota and Agbowa areas by members of the Lagos State Executive Council.

The statement further stated that the project would be the largest rice mill in sub-Saharan Africa with a projected 32 metric tons per hour production capacity, which will create over 200,000 jobs in the agricultural sector as well as produce about 130million Kg of processed rice per year.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode who was represented by Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Adebowale Akinsanya said: “The key takeaway from here is that the construction of the rice mill and the industrial park, among other complementing facilities, are going on as planned. The administrative building, the restaurant, fire station, power station and other facilities needed to support the park and the rice mill are all ongoing concurrently.

“The mill is part of the food security strategy of this administration, as well as southwest integration efforts. It will be the largest rice mill not just in Nigeria but in Sub Saharan Africa.

“Already, we have commitment from the contractors working on the project that it would be delivered by January 2019 and the rice mill that would be the food engine of the Southwest will be in production by February.”

Akinsanya added that the first phase is 75 per cent completed, “The major challenge has been accomplished though we still have some things to sort out but we are over the hurdle.

“What remains is to keep going, speed up and with the commitment of this government; we should be able to complete this project by September and hopefully by the end of the year, all the different markets in Mile 12 will be able to move here and it will be a one shop centre for everybody.”

08 May 2018
0 Comments By admin NEWS & EVENTS , , , ,

Expert calls for improved agro processing

A Food Processing Expert and Industrialist, Mr. Duro Kuteyi, has charged the Federal Government to buoy up the processing of agricultural produce as an effective measure in diversifying the Nigerian economy.

The food expert, who made the call in Lagos at an interview with men of the press, said the processing of tomatoes would reduce wastage and spoilage.

Kuteyi applauded government’s initiative in diversifying from oil to agriculture but was quick to point that, food processing must be encouraged to ensure maximum productivity.

He said: “And if they now encourage food processing, then they score 100 per cent; if not they score 60 per cent.

“We want government to collaborate with us in the area of training the youths and adults on how to process tomatoes.

“So that instead of sustaining 60 per cent waste, not up to five per cent will waste; if these things are processed at the farm gate.

“Now BOI (Bank of Industry) being an arm of government, has taken it upon itself to sponsor the training of youths on tomato processing.

“This will go a long way in making the price of tomato stable throughout the year and making them available to every part of the country and export,’’ he added.

Kuteyi, however, scored Nigeria low in the processing of various agricultural produce.

07 May 2018
0 Comments By admin NEWS & EVENTS

Bayelsa: CBN Gives Farmers Bags of Fertilizer

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, under the Anchor Borrowers Programme started the distribution of one hundred and twenty thousands bags of fertiliser to over five hundred Bayelsa state Farmers as they expect more distribution to come in days.

Ezekiel Ogbianko, State chairman of rice farmers while receiving the NPK thanked the Federal Government for the initiative, saying that with the timely distribution of the inputs, the farmers were now looking forward to a successful farming season.

Expressing with joy, he said “The association has acquired massive land in all the eight local government areas for the sole purpose of rice farming.

“Out of 40,000 hectares of land that we have acquired, we are working on 20,000 hectares right now in Opotuwari and Ondewari communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. Here, we have 120,000 bags of NPK fertiliser and more are still coming, we also have chemicals and other farm inputs.

While stressing the number of members the organization has, the chairman made a call to other farmers who were yet to join to do so, in order to be trained and have the opportunity to be part of the work that is to come.

“We still need more farmers to register with us, so that we can send them for training to empower them to manage these farms. Our aim is to flood the local markets with rice grown here in Bayelsa and export same beyond the shores of the state. We are sure of the positive impact this project will have on our local communities across the state, as jobs will be created massively to engage our youths.”

Corroborating the chairman’s expression was the CBN Head of Development Finance, Yenagoa Branch, Mr. Oryeigha Stanley, who said “For this year 2018, we are going to run two planting seasons but hopefully, by next year, we are going to run three seasons. We want to solicit your support and also advise that the inputs be used specifically for the purpose,”
Adding that more distributions were still to come and particularly for the wet season.

05 May 2018
0 Comments By admin NEWS & EVENTS , , , , , , ,

Maize Farmers To Benefit From Anchor Borrowers’ Programme In Oyo

Maize farmers under the Commodity Farmers Association, Oyo State chapter, will be benefiting from Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme in 2018.

This was disclosed by the Oyo State Chairman of the association, Engr John Olateru at a meeting with the Chairmen of the Farmers Cooperatives under the association, held in Ibadan, Wednesday.

This comes at a time when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has formed strategic partnerships with Agricultural Commodity Associations in the country with the goal of expanding the implementation of the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP).

The Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department (CCD) of the apex Bank, Isaac Okorafor, had said the development would increase the achievements of the ABP and enable the programme accommodate more deserving smallholder farmers across the country.

Engr Olateru further said that the total measurement of farmland for the cultivation of maize for the scheme was two thousand five hundred (2500) hectares.

The association’s secretary, Mr Alimi Adewumi was also present at the meeting.