Lagos set to boost rice production by 20,000 metric tonnes 

Lagos set to boost rice production by 20,000 metric tonnes 
Qasim Akinreti, Lagos.

The Lagos state government in southwest Nigeria is to step up its rice production capacity by 20,000 metric tonnes to the Nigerian and international markets with the expected commissioning of a rice mill plant and rice plantation.
 
Speaking at Imota and Badagry rice mill factory and rice irrigation farm sites, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), said the projects are a continuation of his administration’s philosophy to use infrastructure renewal and development to promote economic growth and attack poverty with the view to eradicating it.

Multiplier effect

Fashola said the project, will in addition to milling rice, have a multiplier effect in terms of job creation and business opportunity especially for rice farmers, those who would bag the rice, rice sellers as well as transporters.

According to him, the mill would process at least 20, 000 metric tonnes of rice at full capacity and address food security challenges in the state and Nigeria as a whole.

He said that the will improve job creation efforts directly and indirectly as well as reduce rice importation to Nigeria.

In his words, “we are importing about a million metric tonnes of rice and Lagos and parts of the Southwest account for a sizeable part of this, close to 500, 000 metric tonnes”. We are looking to achieve at least 500 hectares of rice cultivation and then go to the next level which is to improve the yield per hectare using all forms of scientific options that will help to improve the behaviour of the land, that will help the behaviour of the farmers and the ultimate result in the yield”.

On the rice irrigation farm in Badagry, the governor said young people; graduate farmers and youths on national service have been engaged in the rice farming process. 

He said that in the spirit of self reliance, each youth was allocated a rice farm (acreage) four years ago. The opportunity he said will be expanded next year. He urged young graduates to take up such small contracts and build them into big businesses.

Assurances

On maintenance of the Mill, Governor Fashola assured that  the experts who installed the Mill will be around  for up to one year to train those who would take care of it thereafter.

Adekusibe/Cokey