Jetztentdecken
oneofthe11threetonneharvestertractors
oneofthe11threetonneharvestertractors
OlamNigeria,inabidtoshowcaseitscontributionstothericerevolution
OlamNigeria,inabidtoshowcaseitscontributionstothericerevolution
inNigeria,tooksomejournaliststoitsmultimillion-dollarricefarmand
inNigeria,tooksomejournaliststoitsmultimillion-dollarricefarmand
millingfacilityatOndorie,RukubiinNasarawaState.DANIELANAZIA
millingfacilityatOndorie,RukubiinNasarawaState.DANIELANAZIA
wasthereandreports
wasthereandreports
Agriculture,nodoubt,accountsfortwo-thirdsoflivelihood,justasfood
Agriculture,nodoubt,accountsfortwo-thirdsoflivelihood,justasfood
accountsfortwo-thirdofthehouseholdbudgetsinNigeria.It,therefore,
accountsfortwo-thirdofthehouseholdbudgetsinNigeria.It,therefore,
makesupaveryimportantpartofthelivesofpeople.
makesupaveryimportantpartofthelivesofpeople.
Inspiteofitsenormouspotentialities,itreceiveslittleattentionfromthe
Inspiteofitsenormouspotentialities,itreceiveslittleattentionfromthe
governments.
governments.
WithNigeria’shugemarketforrice,thereisnogainsayingthat
WithNigeria’shugemarketforrice,thereisnogainsayingthat
Nigeriansconsumesabout5.5millionmetrictonnesofriceyearly.Ofthis,
Nigeriansconsumesabout5.5millionmetrictonnesofriceyearly.Ofthis,
3.6millionmetrictonnesarelocallyproduced,mostlybyfarmersfor
3.6millionmetrictonnesarelocallyproduced,mostlybyfarmersfor
personalconsumption.
personalconsumption.
Currently,over$5billionisspentonfoodimportandanestimated
Currently,over$5billionisspentonfoodimportandanestimated
₦365billionisspentyearlytoimportthedeficit1.9milliontonnesrice
₦365billionisspentyearlytoimportthedeficit1.9milliontonnesrice
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needed,becauselocalproductionisunabletosatisfythehugegap.
needed,becauselocalproductionisunabletosatisfythehugegap.
Recently,TheGuardian,alongsideothermediaplatforms,visitedthe
Recently,TheGuardian,alongsideothermediaplatforms,visitedthe
OlamNigeriaricefarmatOndorie,RukubiinNasarawaState,toobserve
OlamNigeriaricefarmatOndorie,RukubiinNasarawaState,toobserve
thefirm’songoingriceprojectandcontributiontoricerevolutionin
thefirm’songoingriceprojectandcontributiontoricerevolutionin
Nigeria.
Nigeria.
OlamNigeria,isafullyownedsubsidiaryofOlamInternationalLimited,a
OlamNigeria,isafullyownedsubsidiaryofOlamInternationalLimited,a
leadingagro-businessoperatingfromseedtoshelfin70countries,
leadingagro-businessoperatingfromseedtoshelfin70countries,
supplyingfoodandindustrialrawmaterialstoover16,200customers
supplyingfoodandindustrialrawmaterialstoover16,200customers
worldwide.
worldwide.
Locatedonagreenfieldsitemeasuring12,920hectaresonthebanksof
Locatedonagreenfieldsitemeasuring12,920hectaresonthebanksof
RiverBenue,265kilometresofftheFederalCapitalTerritory(FCT),
RiverBenue,265kilometresofftheFederalCapitalTerritory(FCT),
Abuja,andapproximately150kilometresoffLafia,thestatecapital,the
Abuja,andapproximately150kilometresoffLafia,thestatecapital,the
expansivefarmisfullyirrigatedandmechanised.
expansivefarmisfullyirrigatedandmechanised.
Attheheartofthericefarmisamechanisedricemillingfacility,with
Attheheartofthericefarmisamechanisedricemillingfacility,with
state-of-the-artmachineriesthatincorporatesSatakemillingandItalian
state-of-the-artmachineriesthatincorporatesSatakemillingandItalian
parboilingtechnologies,withacurrentoperatingcapacityof67,500
parboilingtechnologies,withacurrentoperatingcapacityof67,500
metrictonnesyearly.
metrictonnesyearly.
Conductingjournalistsroundthefarm,theGeneralManager,PieterNel,
Conductingjournalistsroundthefarm,theGeneralManager,PieterNel,
andtheFarmManager,MarkMclean,saidthefarmisexpectedtoyield
andtheFarmManager,MarkMclean,saidthefarmisexpectedtoyield
10metrictonnesperhectare(overtwoannualcropcycles,dryandwet
10metrictonnesperhectare(overtwoannualcropcycles,dryandwet
season),basedonfourvarietiesofhigh-yieldricetestedwiththeWest
season),basedonfourvarietiesofhigh-yieldricetestedwiththeWest
AfricanRiceDevelopmentAssociation.
AfricanRiceDevelopmentAssociation.
Mcleanexplainedthatofthe12,920hectares,beingthetotalareaofthe
Mcleanexplainedthatofthe12,920hectares,beingthetotalareaofthe
farm,10,000hectaresismappedoutforthefullpaddyriceirrigation,
farm,10,000hectaresismappedoutforthefullpaddyriceirrigation,
addingthat4,400hectares(3,000hectaresfromthedryseason,with
addingthat4,400hectares(3,000hectaresfromthedryseason,with
additional1,400hectaresfortheforthcomingwetseason)arealready
additional1,400hectaresfortheforthcomingwetseason)arealready
undercultivation.
undercultivation.
Hedisclosedplansforadditional3,000hectaresforthe2018/19seasonto
Hedisclosedplansforadditional3,000hectaresforthe2018/19seasonto
enablethefarmmeetitsaverageyieldof4.2to4.5metrictonnesper
enablethefarmmeetitsaverageyieldof4.2to4.5metrictonnesper
hectare,whichisfarabovethenationalaverageof1.5metrictonnesper
hectare,whichisfarabovethenationalaverageof1.5metrictonnesper
hectare.
hectare.
HelistedfourvarietiesofricebeingcultivatedasFaro44,NericaL34,
HelistedfourvarietiesofricebeingcultivatedasFaro44,NericaL34,
C90andC20(thelasttwobeingChinesevarieties),allofwhicharegiving
C90andC20(thelasttwobeingChinesevarieties),allofwhicharegiving
theexpectedhighyields,addingthatthefarmiscurrentlystudyingover
theexpectedhighyields,addingthatthefarmiscurrentlystudyingover
100othervarietieswithaviewtoadoptsome.
100othervarietieswithaviewtoadoptsome.
Withanetvalueputat$150million,despiteitsnumberofhi-tech
Withanetvalueputat$150million,despiteitsnumberofhi-tech
machines,including11three-tonnnecombinedharvesters,onesplitter
machines,including11three-tonnnecombinedharvesters,onesplitter
harvesterandtwoaircrafts(basicallyforsprayingofthepaddyand
harvesterandtwoaircrafts(basicallyforsprayingofthepaddyand
fertilizerasapplicationofchemicals-herbicidesandpesticides),deployed
fertilizerasapplicationofchemicals-herbicidesandpesticides),deployed
forplantingandharvesting,thefarmhasonitspayroll1,000workers,
forplantingandharvesting,thefarmhasonitspayroll1,000workers,
madeupof400regularworkersand600seasonalworkers,whoare
madeupof400regularworkersand600seasonalworkers,whoare
mainlyengagedduringpeakseasonfromthehostcommunity,Ondorie,
mainlyengagedduringpeakseasonfromthehostcommunity,Ondorie,
dependingonseason.
dependingonseason.
Determinedtoensureself-sufficiencyinriceproductioninNigeria,Olam
Determinedtoensureself-sufficiencyinriceproductioninNigeria,Olam
Nigeria,throughitspaddyriceactivities,islinkinglarge-scale
Nigeria,throughitspaddyriceactivities,islinkinglarge-scale
agriculturewithsmallholderfarmerstoboostproductioninthecountry.
agriculturewithsmallholderfarmerstoboostproductioninthecountry.
Throughitsactivities,ithassupportedandstillsupportsthericegrowing
Throughitsactivities,ithassupportedandstillsupportsthericegrowing
communitiesinNasarawa,BenueandKadunastateswithgroup
communitiesinNasarawa,BenueandKadunastateswithgroup
formation,trainingandallagroinputsoncredittoimprovetheirpaddy
formation,trainingandallagroinputsoncredittoimprovetheirpaddy
yieldsandrevenueswithassuredbuybacksystem.
yieldsandrevenueswithassuredbuybacksystem.
Tothisextent,thenucleusmodelcombinesthequalitycontrolofalarge-
Tothisextent,thenucleusmodelcombinesthequalitycontrolofalarge-
scalecommercialfarmwiththecostandscalabilitybenefitsofsmallholder
scalecommercialfarmwiththecostandscalabilitybenefitsofsmallholder
‘outgrower’networks.
‘outgrower’networks.
Toaugmentitsproductioncapacity,Olamhasengagedover4003farmers,
Toaugmentitsproductioncapacity,Olamhasengagedover4003farmers,
includingwomeninanareathatspanabout5,563hectarage,witha
includingwomeninanareathatspanabout5,563hectarage,witha
targetof16,000nextyear,ultimatelysupplying30to40percentofthe
targetof16,000nextyear,ultimatelysupplying30to40percentofthe
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targetof16,000nextyear,ultimatelysupplying30to40percentofthe
targetof16,000nextyear,ultimatelysupplying30to40percentofthe
mill’scapacity.
mill’scapacity.
Itbuyspaddyfromallproducingstates,whilealsocontrollingthequality.
Itbuyspaddyfromallproducingstates,whilealsocontrollingthequality.
ItsDirectorofQualityAssurance,MadanSingh,saidthefirmisoutto
ItsDirectorofQualityAssurance,MadanSingh,saidthefirmisoutto
producequalityricethatcancompetewithanyotherinthedomestic
producequalityricethatcancompetewithanyotherinthedomestic
market,bycreatinghigh-endricefromNigeria,forNigeria.
market,bycreatinghigh-endricefromNigeria,forNigeria.
“Weconductrelevantanalysistoensurethatourriceissafeandmeetthe
“Weconductrelevantanalysistoensurethatourriceissafeandmeetthe
nutritionalvalues.
nutritionalvalues.
“Wedophysicalandchemicalanalysis.Ourmoderntechnologyfacilities
“Wedophysicalandchemicalanalysis.Ourmoderntechnologyfacilities
havestandusoutandmakethedifferencebetweenusandothers,”he
havestandusoutandmakethedifferencebetweenusandothers,”he
said.
said.
ThisearneditthehonourofbeingtheonlyISO22000FSMSandFSSC
ThisearneditthehonourofbeingtheonlyISO22000FSMSandFSSC
certifiedriceprocessingcompanyinNigeria,justasithasreceivedglobal
certifiedriceprocessingcompanyinNigeria,justasithasreceivedglobal
bestqualityriceproductoftheyearaward,FY-2015fortheMama’sPride
bestqualityriceproductoftheyearaward,FY-2015fortheMama’sPride
brand.
brand.
Themill,Singhexplained,iscapableofmilling105,000metrictonnes
Themill,Singhexplained,iscapableofmilling105,000metrictonnes
yearly.
yearly.
Onirrigationactivities,Mcleanexplainedthatwaterischanneledfrom
Onirrigationactivities,Mcleanexplainedthatwaterischanneledfrom
RiverBenueusingfivesubmersiblepumps,eachcapableofpumping5,000
RiverBenueusingfivesubmersiblepumps,eachcapableofpumping5,000
cubicmetrespersecond,tothefarmforitsdryseasonfarming.
cubicmetrespersecond,tothefarmforitsdryseasonfarming.
“Asaresult,wehavethecapacitytofarmtwotimesinayear,producing
“Asaresult,wehavethecapacitytofarmtwotimesinayear,producing
4.2tonsperhectaresandwehave3,000hectaresforthedryseasonand
4.2tonsperhectaresandwehave3,000hectaresforthedryseasonand
planning4,400hectaresforthiscomingwetseason,”hesaid.
planning4,400hectaresforthiscomingwetseason,”hesaid.
Speakingontheessenceofthetour,VicePresident,Corporateand
Speakingontheessenceofthetour,VicePresident,Corporateand
GovernmentRelations,OlamNigeria,AdeAdefeko,said:“Oftentime,
GovernmentRelations,OlamNigeria,AdeAdefeko,said:“Oftentime,
peopletalkaboutwhattheywanttodomechanisedfarmingfor
peopletalkaboutwhattheywanttodomechanisedfarmingfor
agriculture,butthesethingsremainstatements.
agriculture,butthesethingsremainstatements.
“Hence,forusatOlam,ricefarmmechanisationisvisibleandgrowthhas
“Hence,forusatOlam,ricefarmmechanisationisvisibleandgrowthhas
beenconsistentforaboutsixyears.
beenconsistentforaboutsixyears.
“MeetingNigeria’sfoodsecurityneedsandreducingthefoodimportbill
“MeetingNigeria’sfoodsecurityneedsandreducingthefoodimportbill
hasbeenourcorevalue,andthishasdrivenOlamNigeriainitsover
hasbeenourcorevalue,andthishasdrivenOlamNigeriainitsover
$1billioninvestmentsinNigeria,acrossdifferentbusinesses,”headded.
$1billioninvestmentsinNigeria,acrossdifferentbusinesses,”headded.
Oncorporatesocialresponsibilitytothehostcommunities,theFarm’s
Oncorporatesocialresponsibilitytothehostcommunities,theFarm’s
CommunityRelationsManager,AbubakarOgashuwa,saidithascreated
CommunityRelationsManager,AbubakarOgashuwa,saidithascreated
accessroadstolinkupthesixhostcommunitiesaroundit,providingthem
accessroadstolinkupthesixhostcommunitiesaroundit,providingthem
withsolarpower,boreholesforportablewater,constructedablockofsix
withsolarpower,boreholesforportablewater,constructedablockofsix
classroomsfortheschoolinthecommunityandhiredteachersas
classroomsfortheschoolinthecommunityandhiredteachersas
introducedscholarshipforindigentchildren.
introducedscholarshipforindigentchildren.
Hefurtherstatedthatthefarmwasalsoinconstantmeetingwithherders
Hefurtherstatedthatthefarmwasalsoinconstantmeetingwithherders
toavoidcrisisthatcouldcomeupthroughinvasionofthefarmbytheir
toavoidcrisisthatcouldcomeupthroughinvasionofthefarmbytheir
animals.
animals.
Onegoodthingaboutthesymbioticrelationsbetweenthefarmandthe
Onegoodthingaboutthesymbioticrelationsbetweenthefarmandthe
locals,hedisclosed,isthathouseconstructionactivitieshavespurred
locals,hedisclosed,isthathouseconstructionactivitieshavespurred
youngpeopleintheareaintothebusinessofblock-making,asseveralof
youngpeopleintheareaintothebusinessofblock-making,asseveralof
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youngpeopleintheareaintothebusinessofblock-making,asseveralof
youngpeopleintheareaintothebusinessofblock-making,asseveralof
youngmennowearnalivingfromtheventures,whilealsobeing
youngmennowearnalivingfromtheventures,whilealsobeing
responsiblemembersoftheircommunities.
responsiblemembersoftheircommunities.
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