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Our contribution to rice farming boosted output by 50% – Stallion Group

By BusinessNews Staff on May 8, 2014

The Stallion Group has stated that its investment in the development of rice production in the country has contributed immensely to the rise in rice output by over 50 per cent.

Acknowledging the uncommon leadership provided by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the company said its interest in the sector and resolve to contribute to its development was helped by the enthusiasm and know-how which Adesina introduced to the sector since he became minister.

According to the group, the federal government had been focusing on strengthening its Agriculture Transformation Agenda (ATA) under the leadership of Adesina for many years.

“Rice is cultivated in all of Nigeria’s agro-ecological zones and the country is producing paddy mainly in rainy season with renewed focus and energy in expanding quantities during the dry season,” the company said. Stallion Group noted that it was the current enthusiasm displayed by the present leadership of the sector that led it to channel considerable investment to the sector with plans to continually increase involvement in the sector in the future.

According to the group, “Formerly, most of the produce was consumed at subsistence levels; however, with the current impetus provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, large-scale private sector investments have fuelled growth in local production at commercial levels.
“For instance, Stallion Group has made rapid strides in the development of a fully integrated rice value chain in the country. The initiatives in this sector complement the group’s stated vision in developing large scale local industries in Nigeria.

“Stallion owns and operates the country’s largest integrated rice milling facility and has formed popular Progressive Farmers Association (PFA) which is working tirelessly to improve farm yields and bring in sustainable growth to farmers. The group has fully integrated its rice value chain including production; procurement through collection centre; association with co-operatives and farmers, logistic and post-harvest services; marketing and as a catalyst toward sustainable growth.”

Stallion Group said with the efforts of farmers’ associations working closely with other co-operative farmers’ association, the subsistence farming structure was being converted into commercial farming by providing technical inputs in respect of land preparation, crop care, weed management, moisture management and post-harvest care. There is also effort towards improving storage methods resulting in acceptable levels of moisture in the paddy which in turn results in higher milling recovery.

According to the group, “Stallion’s foray into agribusiness started way back in 2007. Under the guidelines of the federal government’s ATA and with the assistance of a team of agricultural experts from around the world, they started deliberating on various Agricultural Extension and Training Programmes among the farmers’ groups and at strategically located rice farms.

“Furthermore, the challenge of milling and processing the rice paddy has taken its importance, pursuant to which the company started its commercial production (Made-in-Nigeria rice) from locally procured paddy by putting a state-of-the-art rice milling facility in Kano.”

The company therefore said it was now operating a fully integrated state-of-the-art rice mill in the country with an aggregate capacity of 360,000 metric tons per annum and is producing a premium variety of rice from local paddy being marketed by the company under the names ‘Royal Stallion Shinkafa’ and ‘Super Champion’ which are now the most popular locally produced made-in-Nigeria brands of rice.

“Our entire focus is to strengthen the local farming community and their knowhow of rice farming in order to usher in the rice revolution into the country. It is a multi leveled approach not only to increase the area under cultivation but also to transform the rice farming and rice business sector through quality produce and farm productivity.

“Stallion is implementing a comprehensive strategy to positively impact a vast geographical area under rice farming and thousands of progressive farmers are being targeted under the initiative to the PFA,” the group said.

[This Day]

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