Friday, 29th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search
Breaking News:

Dangote optimistic of realisation of food production plan

By EDITOR
24 February 2015   |   11:00 pm
WITH its ongoing agricultural projects across the country, the Dangote group has expressed optimism in assisting the realization of Nigeria’s self-sufficiency target in food production.   The group reiterated its determination to support the Federal Government in its effort to revolutionize the agricultural sector and make Nigeria self-dependence in the areas of food production.   …

WITH its ongoing agricultural projects across the country, the Dangote group has expressed optimism in assisting the realization of Nigeria’s self-sufficiency target in food production.

  The group reiterated its determination to support the Federal Government in its effort to revolutionize the agricultural sector and make Nigeria self-dependence in the areas of food production.

   The group in a statement made available to The Guardian, noted that its investments cover production of fertilizer, rice, tomato paste, sugar among others.

   Dangote group had recently signed a Memorandum of Association (MoU) with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to invest $1billion for the establishment of fully integrated rice production and processing operations across the country. 

   According to the group, the MoU and the planned investment are a response to government reforms of the Agricultural Transforming Agenda(ATA) launched in 2011.

   “The Group has acquired farmlands in Edo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara and Niger States totaling 150,000 hectares to be used for commercial production of rice paddy.

  “The company will also establish two modern large scale mills each with capacity to mill 120,000 metric tonnes of rice paddy, while doubling the capacity within two years”, the statement read in part.

   The statement said the rice mills will become the single largest investment in rice production in Africa.

   The rice plants are estimated to produce 960,000 metric tonnes, representing 46 percent of total rice imported into Nigeria.

   Group President Aliko Dangote had said during the signing of the MoU that Nigeria,”is capable of producing rice that can feed the whole of West African sub region.”

 

0 Comments