* Nigeria has capacity to produce far more quantities of quality rice – Adekolu
By John Odunayo
The National Chairman, Association of Greenfield Rice Producers, Marketers and Entrepreneurs (AGRiPMENT), Chief Oludare Adekolu, says that Nigeria has the capacity to produce far more rice than what obtains at present if genuine producers get adequate support.
Adekolu, who is the Chief Executive of Igbemo Rice Processing Company Limited, says that AGRiPMENT, with branches across Nigeria and membership comprising local rice farmers, millers, processors and distributors is poised to boost rice production in the country.
He said that AGRIPMENT is in contact with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Small and Micro Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to seek support for inputs and equipment for its members to boost production of rice nationwide.
Adekolu said, “Having made wide consultations with our members across the country, the following inputs and machineries are greatly needed to ease their transactions of rice sufficiency.
“These are inputs such as improved seeds, herbicides, pesticides fertilizers and urea and as well as equipment such as paddy parboiling machines,paddy dryers, paddy milling machines and rice destoning machines,” he stated.
The AGRiPMENT chairman said that members would be willing to comply with terms and conditions of access to the government support, adding, “We humbly request also, if possible, for a monitoring officer from the Ministry and/or SMEDAN as the case may be for updates on our members’ activities”.
He expressed the association members’ willingness to be part of programmes designed for the sustenance of the rice sector in the country.
Adekolu said in a statement that the association is linking stakeholders in the rice production value chain including “entrepreneurs, government ministries and agencies, equipment and input companies, financial institutions etc in order to fastrack the necessary assistance required to develop and expand their businesses”.
The AGRiPMENT chairman, who said, “Rice is food, food is life”, said that the goal of AGRiPMENT, among others, is to ensure unity among members and facilitate security support against hazards and other security challenges of the members.
He stated, “Primarily, we are poised to galvanizing the rice value chain from farming to milling/processing and distribution. Our members cut across local rice farmers, millers, processors and distributors, thereby facilitating their access to developmental programmes and products that can facilitate the growth of the rice sector”.
