Labana Rice Mills, a Nigerian company in Kebbi has received 30,000 hectares of land from the government of Benin Republic.
This was disclosed by Abdullahi Idris-Zuru, the General Manager of the company in Birnin Kebbi, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
The development would expectedly boost the firm’s annual paddy rice requirement up to 300,000 metric tonnes.
What they are saying
Idris-Zuru said that the company would in 2022, finance farmers through the Benin Republic Government, to produce 20,000 metric tonnes of paddy rice during the dry season.
Stressing that a total of 30,000 hectares of farmland is being made available in Benin Republic to Labana Rice Mills for the cultivation of rice, he said that the resolution was reached in the meeting of Beninese Government officials with Labana Rice Mills delegation at Cotonou.
He added that the Beninese government granted the farmland after an assessment of the company’s rice mills and farms in Kebbi, Nigeria. According to him, the report has convinced the government of Labana Rice Mills’ capacity to be a reliable partner in agriculture.
What you should know
Recently, a delegation from Benin Republic comprising of the Deputy Ambassador, Director General of the Agricultural Development Agency as well as a member of the country’s National Assembly was in Kebbi State to kick start the process of the partnership with the Nigerian rice mill.
While in the state, the delegation visited Labana Rice Mills and inspected the facilities of the rice mills whilst also having a meeting with members of the Board of Directors of Labana Rice Mills.