Doma Council area of Nasarawa State is undergoing a silent revolution. This is courtesy of an ambitious rice project initiated by integrated agro-firm, Olam Nigeria Limited.

The project, which has transformed previously bare lands to huge rice fields, is also helping to curb the problem of unemployment in a state that has seen too many violence in recent times.
During a recent visit to the community, revealed frequent movement of trucks carrying artisans, workers or merchants in and out of various the farm sites. Various types of tractors were seen traversing the huge spread of land earmarked for rice cultivation.
From most parts of the farm, it is like standing in middle of nowhere, as the cleared land for cultivation and cultivated portions are sprawl with lush ground of several kilometers.

Olam, through this initiative has solved a number of problems in the communities. These include effective utilisation of the land and employment for the youths busy, which has kept them away from crime.
The community leader of Ijiwo, a settlement in the area, Kushunta Adi, told Sunday Independent that, “Before the coming of Olam to our community, most people in this area were idle, which is not good, but today, the story is different.

“In fact, at that initial time, most of excavators on the project were foreigners, but today, the company has employed many of our youths and this is helping many families here”.
He said some of such youths were working as combined harvester mechanics, while others have found economic empowerment in the other areas of need in the farm.
According to the community leader, what Olam is doing in their community is worth of emulation by both the government at the different levels and other companies, which have operations in Nigeria.

He said: “In fact, what they have done here is enormous. I believe if the Federal Government can copy them, the country would be better. If we have one or two other companies like this in Nigeria, it will be difficult for us as a country to import rice”.
By Adi’s estimate, between 60 and 70 per cent of youths were being economically empowered in the company’s operations.
Another native, Adagoso Zakari, was equally full of praise for the company.

Adagoso, who before now was without a regular means of income, said life before and after Olam could not be compared.
He said since the company employed him as rice blocs manager, there has been a big improvement in his situation.
According to him, the company first put him through training to be able to manage a rice block as a rice farmer, saying the difference is just clear.
Adagoso said unlike before when he had to toil on a between three and four acres of rice farm with little or nothing to show for it, that Olam’s coming dramatically changed things for him, as at today, he is managing a farm of about 20 hectares.

He said besides himself, that at least another estimated 70 to 80 per cent people from the community were beneficiaries of the Olam capacity building and economic empowerment programme on rice farming.

He said: “Today, I can tell you that without Olam people would not be able to do anything called farming. Before when we farmed on our own, it would yield two to three tones, but today, I know the right amount of fertlieser I am supposed to apply to my farm to make it to yield”.
He said a particular area that readily comes to his mind, is the transplanting technique taught him by the company, which has increased the yield from his farm.

His appeal to the Federal Government to support companies like Olam to empower more communities, and to help them tar the road from Okpata to Makurdi for easy accessibility for his people.

Speaking along the same line, Sunday Uloko who was obviously elated in what the company was doing in the community added that many natives have come to understand farming better because of the magnanimity of the company, which they initially received with suspicion.
Abdul Salami from the Andoni community in the area, said, “Many of us have come to understand farming better beyond just pouring in seeds in the soil.”

He added that companies like Olam active in the agriculture sector should be supported.
On the issue of ban on the importation of rice, he said it should be a gradual process so as not to cause panic and confusion in the country.
Evaluating the Olam rice project in the area, he described it as a green field project, which started from nothing and therefore consumed a lot of resources, since there was not even basic infrastructure.

Abdulsalami Anmena, a native, who works as farm officer in Olam and liaison officer between the company and the community, said the company enjoys healthy relationship with the company, adding that the latter has made huge investments in the community.
According to him, unlike before when most of the community were employed, about 70 per cent of them now have employment from Olam.
“Before, our roads were also impassable, but now, the situation has changed. If not for Olam, nobody would be able to live in the community because of insecurity”, he said.

Reji George, General Manager, Olam Rice, said the farm would commence milling of 200,000 metric tonic of paddy in Doma Council by June 1.
On the ban of rice importation, he noted that this may not be the right time to do it, saying, “I believe it should be a gradual process. Before you ban rice or any agricultural commodity you must have to develop the local strength of rice production.”
He said Nigeria has the potentials, in terms of arable land suitable for rice cultivation, the right kind of population and increasing investments in the agriculture sector.

Giving insight on the issue of ban on rice importation, George said: “If you plan the ban of importation of rice, companies like Olam is into commercial production of rice with 6,000 heatares in two cycles, making it 12,000 hectares that would definitely help bridge the demand and supply gap, and with support from other companies, in addition to the role government is playing.

“In few years time, we would be able to bridge the demand and supply gap and we would be able to be self sufficient in rice production.”
He disclosed that Olam have already invested million of dollars in the rice and mills projects, and they may expend more to achieve the installed capacity.

He said the mill would be able to produce rice that can favourably compete with imported rice, adding that Nigeria has a huge market potential for rice, so getting market for the milled rice would not be a problem.

Obiagelli:
All thanks to the visionary leadership of Gov Tanko almakura. One of the shinning lights of the APC.

anonimi:


The dumb governor who could not provide TAP water in the state university until the students rioted and Jonathan gave them boreholes

No wonder he is in the same party as the daft & dumb pretending pensioner!

The agricultural policies of the Jonathan/Sambo team anchored by very able Minister of Agric, Adesina is what APCheat is claiming While this federal administration has hiked rice import tariffs as a prelude to ban, the clueless old soldier who is BEGGING us for the fourth time to please RECRUIT him was senselessly importing rice for two years as military DICTATOR

Lie is what a LIAR does always.


Vote wisely!!!

Ikengawo:
Obi, please, grow up and move on. GEJ has already won, there's no need for you to waste your personal credibility pretending he didn't bring the rice revolution to Nigeria

Obiagelli:
Olam’s is a nasarawa/private partnership, don't steal it for gej.

Ikengawo:
Obi, please, grow up and move on. GEJ has already won, there's no need for you to waste your personal credibility pretending he didn't bring the rice revolution to Nigeria

anonimi:


.....made feasible by good agricultural policies of the cerebral scientific team of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan & Arch. Namadi Sambo leading very capable Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Adesina.

Any Nigerian who did not ABANDON secondary school to join the army will surely understand that!

anonimi:


Move on ke? Na spirit of stubborn goat na im dey worry am so.

Na one of the symptoms for CCBS epidemic ravaging BuhariSTAN residents be that