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

Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

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

Advertisement

Advertisement

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

Advertisement

Advertisement

youngpeopleintheareaintothebusinessofblock-making,asseveralof

youngpeopleintheareaintothebusinessofblock-making,asseveralof

youngmennowearnalivingfromtheventures,whilealsobeing

youngmennowearnalivingfromtheventures,whilealsobeing

responsiblemembersoftheircommunities.

responsiblemembersoftheircommunities.

Advertisement

Advertisement

SponsoredLinks

SponsoredLinks

SponsoredLinks

SponsoredLinks

SponsoredLinks

CosmoWomensHusbandIllustratesEverydayLifeWithWifeIn19Pictures.TryNotToCry!

YouMayLike

ZenHealthMag.com

20FoodsThatAreKillingYouSlowlyDailyNoticia

MagnesiumDeficiencyCausesHeartAttacks!NeverIgnoreThese32…

Save70.comFlightsInGermanyAtRidiculouslyLowPrices

YouMayLike

GreatHistoryMag

20MostDangerousBridgesintheWorld–LivesFamousLivesFamous

20PicturesfromthePastYouHavetoSee

DeltaWarsPlaythisGamefor1Minuteandseewhyeveryoneisaddicted

YouMayLike

TopFamilyMag15AmazinglyGoodCountriesForRaisingKids

SponsoredLinks

SponsoredLinks

SponsoredLinks

SponsoredLinks

SponsoredLinks

SponsoredLinks

0Comments GuardianNews Login1

Share SortbyBest

Startthediscussion…

Subscribe AddDisqustoyoursiteAddDisqusAddDisqus'PrivacyPolicyPrivacyPolicyPrivacy

Recommend

Top30MostBeautifulWomenintheWorldfannntastic-woman

EnglishRussia5CasesofYoungestRussianGirlsGivingBirthatVeryEarlyAge

YouMayLike

Elvenar-FreeOnlineGame

PeoplefromGermanycannotbelievetheseflightpricesTripsShop

TheMostAddictiveGameOfTheYear!

RecommendedForYou

FiveplayerswhoshouldhavemadeSuperEaglesWorldCuplist

ObasanjoreleasesEFCCreportonalleged$16bpowerprojectexpenditure

YouMayLike

ImmigrationDO

15WarningSignsofDiabetesHealthy,Sporty&Beautiful

10EasiestCountriesforImmigrationFromGermany

BuzznFunThe10BestPayingDegreesin2016

Grepolis-OnlineFreeGameAreyoureadytoconquerAncientGreece?Already35millionplayers

RecommendedForYou

Pastor’swifediesduringservice,forburialtomorrow

NTA’sCyrilStobertakesashotatmarriageagain