By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Plans are underway to register an additional 5,143 rice farmers to complement the already existing ones with WACOT Rice Limited in Kebbi State.
This followed the striking of a deal worth N5 billion between WACOT and the West Africa Trade and Investment Hub (WATIH), which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
These new farmers are expected to cultivate over 5,000 additional hectares of land thereby producing over 20,000 tons of paddy which will be utilised at WRL’s 120,000-ton rice mill in Kebbi.
The Nigerian based subsidiary of TGI Group is the owner of the Argungu Rice Outgrower Expansion Project in Kebbi State. It is part of the company’s strategy to become West Africa’s leading rice producer.
The state-of-the-art rice mill produces Big Bull Rice. The rice mill is one of the largest in Africa. The firm sources paddy from various paddy producing states across Nigeria. It also engages in out-grower farming programmes with paddy farmers to boost their yields and guarantees off-take of paddy from farmers through buyback arrangements.
Speaking on the development, the Group Managing Director of TGI Group, Mr Rahul Savara, noted that, “No doubt, this project not only supports our drive to support the government in achieving food security in Nigeria, it also allows us to support our community, Kebbi, which was ravaged by flood just a few months ago. For us, sustainability is a way of life. Therefore, we will continue to explore avenues to grow sustainably, while supporting others.”
On her part, Ms Anne Patterson, the USAID Mission Director, stated that, “The US government is pleased to partner with the private sector in Nigeria to develop market-driven solutions and sustainably improve food security by supporting local rice production.”
She added that, “with this new co-investment partnership, smallholder farmers in Kebbi State can increase yields and improve the livelihoods of their families.”
By supporting smallholder rice farmers to increase their yields by 50 to 100 per cent, the co-investment will help farmers earn more and lift themselves out of poverty, create thousands of jobs, and attract further private investments in the agriculture sector.
According to WACOT, a strong emphasis would be placed on women and youth, with at least 50 per cent of the new farmers trained to be women and 70 per cent of all the farmers under 30 years old.
It was stated that the overall impact is to enhance yield per hectare and help farmers better their livelihoods. In terms of their earnings, this project will help them to be able to send their kids to school, access better livelihoods, access better healthcare and to have better nutrition, and quality of life.
