By Iffy
The private firm which is currently recruiting staff to man the mill, is expected to provide operational support and manage the mill for nine months in the first instance through Joint Venture. The partnership is subject to renewal subsequently.
According to the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Agriculture (Rice Initiative), Dr. Rotimi Fashola,
“There is a need for the Government to put the rice mill on the path of sustainability. We sourced a partnership in rice production business that has a stable brand and eye for efficiency. This brings forth this Joint Venture and technical support agreement with WACOT.”
He said the mill would require over 200 000 tonnes of paddy yearly to produce about 2 4 million 50kg bags of rice.
“However, the government has realised that such investment may not yield expected dividend without an investment in the capacity building and training of rice farmers in the state.”Thus, the state through the Ministry of Agriculture embarked on training of rice farmers and empowering them to improve their livelihood.”This year, 500 rice farmers had been trained and are being empowered with knapsack sprayers, bags of fertilisers, seeds and farm coats,” he said.
Imota Rice Mill comprises major sections including boiler house, water storage and treatment, truck park, administrative building with offices, clinic and meeting room.
Others are rice production factory, fire station, storage warehouse (6000m2) and storage silos among others.
The price of rice has risen to a record high of N37, 000 per 50kg bag, with Fashola expressing concern over rising rice prices.
Meanwhile, the recent flooding in some parts of the country exacerbated the situation, sending the price of 50kg bag of local rice, which sold for between N27, 000 and N28, 000 in August, to N37, 000 per 50 kg bag, while short-grain foreign rice sold between N34, 000 to N36, 000 and is forecast to hit N40, 000 before the end of the year.
Analysts attributed this to the increase in prices of production inputs that have been the largest since 2018, noting that these developments have raised the spectre of stagflation and brought harm to the national agricultural economy.
Fashola, however said the government was working to ensure the mill takes off this year to help crash the price of rice.
