HarvestPlus Nigeria has advised Olam Nigeria Limited, owner of one of the biggest rice mills in West Africa, to patronise farmers in order to create more jobs in 2018.
The Country Manager, Harvest Plus, Dr. Paul Ilona, told our correspondent that it was important for the company to use its new rice factory to create jobs by becoming an avenue for farmers to invest in their production as this would boost the nation’s economy and reduce rice importation.
He said, “It will not assist the economy if Olam produces all its own raw materials as this does not translate into the kind of growth we want for our farmers in the country.
“A large-scale industry like theirs should provide market for thousands of farmers, who are growing rice in Nasarawa State. While the company can produce its own back-up raw materials, it will be of help to Nigerians by creating an avenue for agricultural farmers to be able to use their farm production and supply paddy to the industry.”
Ilona also stressed that government should take a cue from the industry and look at how this would cut across all sectors.
According to him, it is high time the Nigerian government shifted from activities that private sectors can do.
“We need investors like Olam to drive raw materials’ production in the North, and other big companies doing backward integration. If those policies that are currently supporting the rice sector can be extended to all the key produce in Nigeria, we will be preparing for a big industrialisation of the agricultural sector. Government should also implement the policies to assist the sector,” Ilona urged.
He added that Nigeria should create the right environment so that large-scale investments could become labels, as it would enable more Nigerians to be willing to invest in Agriculture.
