[BREAKING]: OPERATORS TO CRASH THE PRICE OF RICE TO N6,000

Rice farmers, millers and processors on Wednesday announced that the price of a 50kg bag of rice will fall to as low as N6,000 in the next few months.

According to them, the current market price of rice, which is about N15,000 per 50kg bag, will drop to between N6,000 and N7,000 in a couple of months, going by the bumper wet season harvest by rice farmers.

Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting between rice farmers/processors and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, at the ministry’s headquarters, in Abuja, the National President, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Aminu Goronyo, told journalists that operators had resolved to currently reduce price of rice to N13,000 per 50kg, but stressed that the price would further drop to N6,000 in a few months.

He said, “This is just the beginning, the actual price of rice will come down because we are expecting a bumper harvest this year. We have sat down with the millers and have agreed that we are going to work together for the interest of Nigerians. I think you have been buying a bag of rice at the cost of N18,000, but today the price is between N13,000 to N15,000, meaning that the price is coming down.”

Asked whether the price would crash further to about N7,000 per 50kg bag, as was the case some years back, Goronyo replied, “Of course! Not even N7,000, it will crash to N6,000. Just give us some time; in fact, in the next few months and it will be for 50kg.”

BAG OF RICE TO SELL FOR N13,000 - AUDU OGBEH

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has assured Nigerians that price of rice would soon crash in the market.

A 60 kilogram of Nigerian rice presently sells for N17,000 but the minister assured that following Federal Government’s intervention, including negotiation with the millers, the price would drop to about N13,000.

Ogbeh in an interaction with newsmen in Abuja also disclosed that efforts were on to see how millers could procure paddy at lower price.

“In July, 2015, one tonne of rice sold for N65,000. Last year June, one tonne of rice went to N150,000. So, the millers said as long as they were buying for N150,000 for a tonne of paddy and milling, they couldn’t sell for less than N17,000 for a bag of 50kg after milling.

“So, we called a meeting between millers and farmers and we are brokering an arrangement now where the price of paddy would drop reasonably to N120,000 per tonne of paddy. And the millers say that if they buy at N120,000, they can sell rice at the rate of N13,000 per 50kg,” he stated.

NIGERIAN COWS ARE WORST MILK PRODUCERS IN THE WORLD - AUDU OGBEH

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has said cows raised in Nigeria are the worst milk producers in the world.

He said an average cow in the country produces less that one litre of milk per day compared to those from other countries where a cow could produce 100 litres per day.

Ogbeh said this at the 79th anniversary of Ikoyi Club 1938 in Lagos on Thursday.

According to the minister, an average cow in Holland produces a minimum of 50 litres of milk per day, while in the United States, milk production per cow can rise to over 100 litres.

He said moving cows from place to place was a major problem affecting meat and milk production in Nigeria, stressing that the earlier farmers started developing ranches for cows, the better it would be for the cow market and its entire value chain.

“An average cow in the US drinks an average of 100 litres of water per day; but in Nigeria, I doubt whether a cow can get two litres of water per week,” Ogbeh added.

The minister also stated that the country accounted for 67 per cent of the world’s yam production, adding that there were more opportunities for Nigeria to grow its share of the market, valued at $12bn, given the over 50 million hectares of land lying fallow in the country.

To give the agricultural sector a major boost, he said the Bank of Agriculture would soon be restructured so that every local government in the country would have at least a two-room branch.

NIGERIA MUST FEED ITSELF - BUHARI

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Kaduna inaugurated Africa’s biggest hatchery and feed mill constructed by Olam Grains at the cost of over $150 million.

Buhari, who inaugurated the company, had his speech read by Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh.

He described Olam as one of the largest agro-based companies in Africa and the biggest poultry investment in Nigeria.

“We participated in the event because it is clear evidence that economic growth is taking place especially in the agricultural sector,” he said.

“It is in this connection that we must be able to feed ourselves from what we grow and grow what we eat before we can comfortably turn our attention to many other key concepts of our daily life.’’

The aim, Mr. Buhari said, was to ensure that Nigerians have access to food, better life, and better hope for their future.

According to him, the inauguration of the company is a testimony that growth is serious and lasting growth is taking place in the economy.

The president stressed that with Nigeria exiting recession, the country has become a safe haven for investors.

He said the establishment of the company was a testimony that the country’s agricultural policies were working.

The president said the federal government has in the last two years made agriculture a profitable venture in Nigeria, attracting investments from within and outside the country.

He noted that new jobs were being created daily for the teaming youth and the economy has started booming again due to policy intervention in the agricultural sector which focused on internal growth and ending food imports.

“We have achieved so much in reducing rural-urban drift, we are beginning to witness reverse migration from the city to villages to engage in agriculture,’’ he added.

He challenged the company to patronise local maize farmers to encourage sustainable growth.

This he said, was necessary to build capacity of local people, create jobs, ensure wellbeing of the people and reduce crime.

On his part, Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna pledged that his administration would continue to encourage investors through favourable policies.

He advised political office holders and civil servants in the state to embrace farming.

The governor stressed that the establishment of the company in the state create thousands of jobs through the value chain.

The Olam Animal Feed Mill and Poultry, which was conceived in 2016, is located about 35 kilometres from Kaduna town.

According to the state government, the facility will provide employment for 8,000 Nigerians through direct and indirect labour and 200 veterinary doctors. It will also hatch 1.6 million day-old-chick weekly.

It will process 180,000 tonnes of corn and 75,000 tonnes of soya beans to produce 360,000 tonnes of animal feeds yearly.

Gov Ortom launches New Benue Sacks and Grain Mudus in Makurdi. PHOTOS.

Governor Samuel Ortom today 8 August 2017  commissioned the newly introduced Benue sacks, the occasion took place at Makurdi Ultra-Modern market, along Dr George Akume way.

The approved width of the sack for crops such as rice, groundnuts is 28 inches and its length is 47 inches - Net WT 28/47. The approved size of a bag for crops such as soybeans is Net WT 23/27. A container of products in category of parboiled rice must not be above 25kg.

PHOTOS : Benue Yams Packaged for Export to US & UK.

Packaging of yams for UK and USA ongoing in Makurdi, Benue State in preps for the flag off of Nigeria Yam Export at Lilypond Container Terminal, Ijora, Lagos on Thursday 29th June, 2017

Credit: Favour Adah

Emefiele, Ogbeh visit ‘first planned and completed’ rice mill under Buhari

Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),  Audu Ogbeh, minister of agriculture, visited the first rice mill to “conceptualized, executed and to be commissioned” under President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The rice processing mill with 120,000 metric tonnes capacity in Argungu, Kebbi State by WACOT Rice Limited, a member of the TGI Group aims to ensure food security and youth employment.

According to the millers, the rice mill is part of WACOT’s expansion plan, which targets a capacity increase with additional rice plants to overall 500,000 metric tonnes in the next few years.

“Located in Argungu Local Government Area, along the Argungu-Sokoto road, the rice processing plant is the first rice mill to be conceptualized, executed and to be commissioned during the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari,” WACOT Rice Limited said via statement.

“Work started on the Mill in February 2016 and is scheduled to be formally commissioned in May, 2017.”
During a pre-commissioning visit to the 120,000 metric tonnes mill on Thursday, Abubakar Bagudu, governor of Kebbi state, hosted Emefiele and Ogbeh, who commended the board and management of WACOT Rice Limited for keying into the “self-sufficiency in rice production” goal of the federal government.

While conducting the special visitors round the N10 billion mill, Rahul Savara, the group managing director of TGI Group, said the mill will produce top quality rice, and that it will generate direct and indirect employment for 3,500 people, adding that over 50,000 farmers will have ready market for their produce.

Ujwalkanta Senapati, WACOT’s managing director, adds that “WACOT views farmers as partners with whom we work hand-in-hand to improve agricultural production”.

Savara further revealed that the mill is “the first rice plant in Nigeria with captive power co-generation facility and that it will generate 1 MW electricity from rice husks, thereby ensuring that all by-products and waste products are fully consumed and the environment is protected”.

On his part, Emefiele lauded WACOT Limited for the feat, adding that the mill will save the country substantial amount of foreign exchange that would have gone into rice importation.

He also assured the farmers that government will continue to do everything to ensure that their products are sold.

Ebonyi one-man, one-hectare agric programme begins as youths get cheques.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, on Monday flagged off Governor David Umahi administration’s one-man, one hectare agricultural programme in the state.


The occasion which was  witnessed by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, was kick-started with  the planting of palm trees at Ezillo Farm and a symbolic tree of peace at Ishielu Local Government Area headquarters. The symbolic tree was to commemorate a  peace agreement between Ezillo and Ezza-Ezillo.

Speaking at the Abakaliki Township Stadium  where thousands of women and youths had gathered to witness the grand finale of the events,  Ogbeh pledged Federal Government’s support to Ebonyi State in its agricultural programme.

He said: “We are going to bring machinery here. We hope that before we round up,there will be a major industrial starch plant in this state. We also believe that we will  let you have some cassava flour processing plants,especially  for cassava, fufu. We shall bring you another crop,cashew nut, because the demand for cashew nut in the  international market is high. You are famous for rice production,but you are going to be more famous when we bring our programme for implementation.

“Today, I assure you that  we shall join hands with you to make your rice production plan work. We shall make sure you get the best seed,especially,the F.44. It is about the national standard we have because in Nigeria today, there are over 70 varieties of rice. We cannot grow all.”

The minister, who also promised to bring rice harvesters and threshers to Ebonyi State,commended Governor Umahi for the robust agricultural programme,especially the  one-man,  one-hectare policy.

Challenging politicians and civil servants to have a second address in agriculyure, he said that   poverty in the country was not acceptable.

He explained that there was hunger in the country today because Nigerians had been lazy in the past by focussing on oil and importation of everything, including toothpicks.

“What your governor is doing is going to be strongly supported by us. We shall support you with good seeds. And before the year runs out,before the rice harvest,we shall bring in small machines to help you harvest your rice. And for those of you civil servants,politicians and so on going to agriculture,please,take it a business seriously,” a statement by Umahi’s Chief Press Secretary Emma Anya quoted the minister as saying.

Ogbeh, who in company with Umahi, later gave out a symbolic cheque to one of the beneficiaries of the state’s youth and women empowerment programme,  told the youth that the governor, had by his actions “handed over the key to prosperity” to them.

Umahi had in his opening remarks explained that the agricultural programme   was aimed at ensuring food security for the state and the country. He said his administration had among others,   procured   40  tractors,distributed  farm seedlings and gotten soft loans for  genuine farmers in the state.

 

PHOTO: Minister Of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh decorates Aisha Buhari as Nigeria's Nutrition Ambassador.

Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh presented a plaque to wife of the President, Aisha Buhari at her investiture as Nigeria's Nutrition Ambassador.

Lagos and Niger State begins partnership for the development of Agricultural Commodity Value Chain.(Photos)

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday kick-started discussions on partnership for the development of agricultural commodity value chain with Niger State aimed at ensuring food security and job creation for the two States and the country at large.

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