As parts of efforts by the federal government to boost rice production and ban importation into the country, it has expressed readiness to partner with OLAM farm. The aim of the partnership, according to federal government delegation that visited the farm yesterday, is to support domestic food production and food security through scaling up rice cultivation.

The Vice president of the farm, Mr. Regi George, said they have developed a 10,000 hectare fully irrigated paddy farm on green field sites in Rukubi, Nasarawa State, affirming that the country would soon achieve self-sufficiency in rice production.

He further said that over 4,450 hectares are already under cultivation, with a further 3,000 hectares on target for 2017/18, adding that up to 1000 workers are employed, depending on the season.

Regi lamented the challenges confronting them, which includes poor road networks, electricity, irrigation and zero infrastructure.

Addressing journalists after the inspection, the Kebbi state governor, Mr. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu who is the Chairman of the National Initiative for Stable Crop Production in Nigeria, congratulated Olam farm for its doggedness and self-determination in consolidating on federal government policy of fighting importation of foreign rice into the country by encouraging local food production.

The Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe also commended them and urged other investors to imitate the giant stride in boosting food production in the country.