As part of efforts to support Nigeria’s quest for rice self sufficiency by 2017, Olam Farm, producers of Mama Pride has scale up production to over 40,000mt of paddy rice annually.
The farm has also increased the number of farmers in its outgrower scheme from the initial 3000 to 5000 to cultivate a total of 5500 hectares of Farm through the Anchor Borrower Scheme of the Central Bank and the International Fund for Agriculture Value Chain programme.
The Project Coordinator, Olam Rice Farm, Mr Mahesh Nimje while addressing journalists in Rukubi Nasarawa state on the increased yield of 2017 harvest said the target is to produce over 10 metric tons per hectare in two circle annual crop.
On their contribution to the self-sufficiency target in rice production of the federal government, he said Olam has increased it farm hectare under cultivation from 3,800 -4,500 hectare disclosing that their plan was to cultivate 13,500 hectares by 2018 so as to boost local production of the food crop.
“The current rice demand in the country is about 6million metric tones while the supply is 3.5million mt leaving a demand-supply gap of 2.5million metric tons, it is believe that with foreign direct investment like Olam rice in the country, Nigeria is hopeful to become self-sufficiency in rice production within a short period.
“With 2016 bumper harvest in it Rukubi farm, Olam is convinced that Nigeria is close to achieving it’s target of self sufficient in rice production.
“However, government needs to increase access to finance for farmers, and encourage foreign direct investment especially in the areas of Agriculture,” he said.
