Federal Government on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with MV Agro Engineering Nigerian Limited for the procurement of 10 large-scale rice processing plants to boost rice production in the country to attain self-sufficiency.
Audu Ogbeh, minister of agriculture and rural development, signed on behalf of the Federal Government while Jamu Babba, managing director of MV Agro Engineering, signed on behalf of his company.
At the signing ceremony, Ogbeh explained that over 7 million metric tons of milled rice was required annually in Nigeria while only 4 million metric tons was currently being produced.
He pointed out that for Nigeria to achieve self- sufficiency in rice production that about 60 large scale rice processing plants were required, adding that there are about 18 operating large scale rice processing plants in Nigeria, each having annual processing capacities varying from 15,000 to 120,000 tons.
He also explained that about 200 smaller rice-processing mills had earlier been procured and distributed to almost every state of the federation.
The minister said using agro-industrialisation to drive self-sufficiency in rice production was designed to attract youth in agriculture to feed the growing population in Nigeria.
He further explained that under the MoU, the Federal Government would drive the process of procurement, installation, commissioning of the large-scale rice processing plants, while the private sector would manage, operate and acquire the machines over a period of time.
Ogbeh noted that the Federal Government cannot longer afford to expend $5million per day in the importation of rice, adding that Nigeria would not depend on importation of food items to feed her huge population.
He further stated that over 13 million Nigerians are on the farms growing rice across the country, noting that the number would increase to 20 million in the near future.
In his remarks, Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for agriculture and rural development, said the Federal Executive Council had earlier approved the proposal for the purchase of these large-scale rice-processing plants.
Lokpobiri observed with joy that Nigerian rice is one of the best in the world in terms of quality and sweetness, saying that the Federal Government would work assiduously to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production.
Daily Independent gathered that the 10 large-scale rice-processing plants are expected to be delivered to the country in December 2019.
