Africa’s biggest rice mill commences operation

In his speech at the occasion, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Dr. Akinwumi Adesina said Nigeria is driving a policy that will turn it away from being a rice importing country to a major rice exporter. According to him, the investment by Olam Farm in an integrated rice mill will help boost domestic production […]

In his speech at the occasion, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Dr. Akinwumi Adesina said Nigeria is driving a policy that will turn it away from being a rice importing country to a major rice exporter.
According to him, the investment by Olam Farm in an integrated rice mill will help boost domestic production and milling of rice of international grade in Nigeria.
“This is a clear demonstration that our approach of taking agriculture as a business to drive growth of agriculture is working,” Adesina said.
Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of the state expressed appreciation to the management of Olam Farms and the government of Singapore for siting the project in the state.
“I am indeed very proud and excited that this laudable and world class project has come to fruition and it’s being in my state of Nasarawa. Olam has taken the state to greater heights,” he said.
Olam’s Managing Director for Africa and Middle East Venkataramani Srivathsan said the commissioning of Africa’s biggest rice mill demonstrates how large-scale commercial farms can work hand-in-hand with small holders to help advance Nigeria’s agricultural agenda and generating rural prosperity through local processing.
The integrated rice milling facility, situated at the heart of Olam’s 6,000-hectare Greenfield irrigated and mechanised paddy farm, will provide 36,000 metric tonnes of milled rice every year.