Dangote Group Launches 20,000-Hectare Rice Production Scheme

The Dangote Group, yesterday launched 20,000
hectare rice production scheme, aimed at making
the country self-sufficient in rice production and
food secure by the year 2018.
Speaking at the flagging-off of the scheme at Hago
Fadama kafin-Hausa local government area of the
state, the state governor Alhaji Badaru Abubakar
Badaru said, the project was part of his
government’s commitment to improve agriculture
and industrialise the state for job creation and
poverty eradication.
“Right from my inaugural speech, I made it clear
that, agriculture was one of my government cardinal
points and we are ready to collaborate with private
investors in achieving the desire goals. The project
we are launching today is one of the numerous
projects we intend to embark in collaboration with
private investors from within and outside the
country, and we have already signed memorandum
with many of them,” the governor said.
The governor assured Dangote Group of the state
government’s support in making any policy and
intervention that will make the investment profitable
and generate jobs to the teeming population of the
state.
Speaking at the occasion, the minister of state for
agriculture Mr Heineken Lokpobiri said the federal
government was worried over the production gap it
has in rice and the millions of dollars spent annually
on its importation despite having vast arable land
that can make Nigerians rice exporters if properly
utilized.
He disclosed that presently the country needs 6.8
million metric tons of rice annually for
consumption, but that “we are locally producing
only 2.6 million metric tons. In view of this, the
federal government has come up with plan to
encourage massive investment in rice production
and agricultural sector in general to end rice
importation by the year 2018,” he said.
In his remarks, the president, Dangote Group, Alhaji
Aliko Dangote, said his company targeted 120,000
hectares for rice production across the country by
the year 2020.
He said the Jigawa rice scheme targets 20,000
hectares in which the out growers will produce
8,000 hectares while the company will cultivate
12,000 hectares.
According to him, the project will provide direct job
opportunities to over 10,000 youths in addition to
food security and internally generated income to
the state government.
He expressed appreciation to the Hadejia Emirate
Traditional Rulers, the Jigawa State government
and federal government for the support given to the
company, and also called for more policy and
incentives that would create more enabling
environment and encourage private sector
investment in to the sector.