Dangote Rice due to hit the market soon under scheme to make Nigeria self-sufficient

PROPOSALS to diversify Nigeria's economy and make the country self-sufficient in food production are expected to take a huge step forward soon with the planned unveiling of a unique Dangote Rice brand.

 

Being launched by Dangote Industries, owned by Africa's richest man Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the new rice is currently being harvested and is expected to be available within the next few months. Earlier in the year, Dangote Industries inaugurated its 8,000-hectare Rice Outgrowers’ Scheme in Hadejia, Jigawa State, with the distribution of rice seedlings to farmers.

 

This scheme, which is part of its partnership with government at all levels to reduce Nigeria’s food imports, has the potential to provide 10,000 direct and indirect jobs. This rice project being executed by Dangote Industries is to be replicated in six other states of the federation as part of the programme to reduce imports.

 

A Dangote Industries spokesman said: “We are really excited about the progress so far recorded in this our rice projects. Once we commence the sales of our rice, I can authoritatively tell you that the price of rice will crash in the country as we should have enough, in the next few years to make importation of rice non-attractive again into the country.”

 

Alhaji Dangote had lamented the fact that the annual Nigerian agricultural commodities and food imports’ bill has been more than N1tn over the past two years, with items such as sugar, wheat, rice and fish accounting for 93% of the amount. He described the situation as unacceptable, adding that this informed his decision to go into agriculture.