WACOT’s N10bn rice mill excites Kebbi farmers

Atiku Bagudu, Kebbi State Governor

Rice farmers in Kebbi State are eagerly looking forward to the official opening of the N10 billion WACOT Rice Mill in the state as more than 50,000 farmers are set to supply the massive mill built on 10 hectares of land when production begins in April.

Located on the Argungu-Sokoto Road, the mill has a production capacity of 100,000 tonnes annually as well as silos for storing 18,000 tonnes of paddy and a warehouse for storing additional 12,000 tonnes of paddy.

When operational, it is expected to generate direct and indirect employment for 3,500 people and its procurement will reach out to.

Uthman Mohammed, patron of Kebbi State Rice Farmers Association, said, “Before the coming of WACOT, the rice companies simply came here to purchase our rice and take it to mill elsewhere. We discussed with the emir that we would appreciate a company to be set up in Argungu for milling our rice, and we are ready to feed such mill.

“Now that WACOT is here, we have gone round to tell our farmers that we now have a rice mill. We urged them to grow more rice so that the mill will produce round the clock. When our people heard about it they were very excited.  Many are happy that they no longer have to go seeking for jobs elsewhere because of the job opportunities created in Argungu. It is an interesting thing for me to be a rice farmer.

Alhaji Ismaila Muhammad Mera, Emir of Argungu, a rice farmer, expressed delight over the development. “For a very long time, Argungu has always been known for its rice farming. When you talk about agriculture here, it is rice first and other crops follow.

 “It would be good for our farmers to have available markets for their produce and with WACOT, this feat can now be guaranteed. A 100kg bag of rice previously cost N3,000 to N4,000. People simply farmed to feed their families and sell what little they have left.

“However, for two years now, rice farming has become a profitable endeavour,” he said.

 On quality, Mr. Gupta said WACOT has the capacity to produce world class rice that could be compared with those produced in Thailand and India because it has the required machines, boilers and other equipment needed to produce high quality rice.

“We need to change the impression that Nigerian rice is inferior to Thai rice. Our rice has passed through food safety standards and control and we are set to meet our targets.

 “We need 100,000 tons of paddy to produce 16,000 tons of finished rice per year. With the capacity of our equipment and the interactions built over the years with farmers, this would not be difficult for us to meet. The rice mill cost us N10 billion to set up. We are confident of our entry into the market,” he said.