Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the Governor of Kebbi State has commended WACOT Rice Limited, a subsidiary of TGI Group, for its efforts in boosting the drive towards food security in Nigeria.
The governor said this on the heels of a $10.5 million (about N4.99 billion) co-investment partnership which WACOT Rice Limited signed with the USAID-funded West Africa Trade and Investment Hub (WATIH).
According to a statement, the company, which has an Outgrower Expansion Project in Argungu, Kebbi State, aspires to be West Africa’s leading rice producer.
Through the new partnership, WACOT Rice will register an additional 5,143 farmers to complement its already existing outgrower network in the state.
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The new farmers are expected to cultivate over 5,000 additional hectares of land thereby producing over 20,000 tons of paddy, which will be utilised at the company’s 120,000-ton rice mill.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo commissioned the mill in 2017. It produces premium household brands of parboiled rice Big Bull and Patriot.
Bagudu, who is the Vice Chairman of the National Food Security Council and also National Champion on Nigeria Rice Revolution, said the state government was pleased that efforts of the federal government in agricultural revolution was being recognised by international bodies like USAID and WATIH.
He added: “WACOT Rice Limited is the first major rice mill commissioned under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration and the support by both globally reputable organisations is a big boost for private sector investment in the Nigerian agriculture sector.”
It is expected that the project would improve the lives and livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the region while addressing Nigeria’s food security concerns.