It is no longer news that the Nigerian government has completely closed the country’s land borders with neighbouring countries to curtail smuggling of rice and other commodities, a move which is weakening the supply of foreign rice, increasing prices, and supporting local production of the food item.
If the government’s decision on border closure against imports and exports persists, it then means Nigerians would most likely have no other choice than to embrace rice brands produced locally which are already finding their ways into different markets across the country.
But how many of these local rice brands do you (Nigerians) know? More than fifty respondents were asked this question randomly in a recent street survey conducted by BusinessDay. Almost all the respondents mentioned less than five brands, suggesting Nigerians probably have come across some locally produced rice but confused them with foreign rice owing to their seemingly similar packaging models.
This shocking revelation informed the compilation of homegrown rice to keep Nigerians in the know of Made-in-Nigeria brands, particularly those who are willing to make a quick switch to locally produced rice as Christmas season draws near.
Read also; Demand for Nigerian rice expected to grow in line with strong drivers
Mama Gold
Mama Gold is arguably one of the most popular Nigerian brands of rice processed and packaged by Olam Nigeria Limited with high quality grains. It has gained wide acceptance by Nigerians over the years because of its low starch content which makes it easy to cook.
The product comes in different packages and sold at varied prices in the markets across the country. But with the information we gathered from traders in Lagos and Abuja, a 50kg bag of Mama Gold sells between N16,000 to N18,500.
Cottage Rice
This brand of rice is produced by Abuja-based Cottage Mills Ventures (CMV). The company processes paddy rice and distributes its products within the Abuja community as well as Lagos state. A 50kg of Cottage Rice is sold at the rate of N17,500 in major cities across the country.
Adaminna Rice
This product is processed, packaged and distributed by Adaminna Farms, one of the leading exporters of high quality agricultural products Nigeria to other West African countries and beyond. Just as the name implies, Adaminna Rice is grown in Minna, Nigeria and it only costs N15,000 per bag.
Big Bull
Big Bull Nigerian Parboiled Rice is a premium quality Nigerian-grown parboiled rice processed by agro-allied company, West African Cotton Company (WACOT) Limited. Big Bull rice comes in different packages such as 5kg, 10kg, 20kg and 50kg and it costs N17,500 to buy a 50kg of the product.
Mama’s Pride
Mama’s Pride is another product of Olam Nigeria Limited. Besides being a parboiled rice with natural health benefits, Mama’s Pride is stone free and takes relatively less time on fire. The product’s price ranges between N16,000 – N18,000 per 50kg bag.
Read also: The rise in the price of rice
Danyaro Rice
Danyaro Rice is a long grain parboiled rice which is produced and packaged in Kano State, Nigeria.
Naija Sweet Rice
Unlike Danyaro Rice, Naija Sweet Rice is a medium parboiled rice grown, processed and packaged in Lagos, Nigeria.
Elephant Pride
Elephant Pride Sortexed Quality Rice and Elephant Gold Thai Super Deluxe Sortexed are the two rice brands of Elephant Group Plc. Elephant Pride rice brand is locally produced and comes in two different bags, the colourful yellow bags are the new design while the other one with green colour is the previous design. They both have 50kg and 25kg bags.
COSRICE
This brand is a product of Coscharis Farms in Anambra state and classified as 100 percent Sortexed long-grain parboiled rice. While the supply of the product may not yet be well distributed in all parts of Nigeria, Coscharis Farms assured that it will soon be available nationwide.
Ga’ate Gold
Ga’ate Gold is another Made-in-Nigeria rice which is already in the market. It is produced by
Nigeria Farmers Group & Cooperative Society (NFGCS) in Nasarawa State, and made from brown rice that is destoned, unpolished and nutritious.
Lake Rice
Lake rice is a popular brand of rice and a product of a collaboration between the Lagos and Kebbi state governments. The product is also available in the market.
Ebony Super and Gold
Ebony Super and Gold are two brands of rice from Ebony Agro in Ebonyi State.
Mama’s Choice
Mama’s Choice is a premium double polish parboiled rice also produced and packaged by Olam Nigerian Limited. Mama Choice is not sticky, very nutritious, clean and stone free. A 50kg bag of the product costs between N16,500 to N17,500.
Royal Stallion
Some Nigerians would probably have seen this but assumed it’s a foreign brand. Royal Stallion is a Nigerian grown rice with its logo having a semblance of Nigeria’s Coat of Arm. The brand is adjudged one of the best brands in the country with more than 10 varieties.
Labana Rice
Labana Rice is produced and packaged by Labana Rice Mills Limited, an integrated rice mill in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State. Owing to this, the brand is majorly available in the north-west region of the country.
Other locally produced rice include Kufa Rice produced rice in Benue State, Ibk, Maf, Umza, Ofada, Lula, Miva, Igbemo, and Mama Happy Choice.
