The Ogun government has said that it was ready to flood markets nation wide by December through its rice production project.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Adeola Odedina, disclosed this on Friday during a tour of 600-hectare of rice farm in Igbo-Aje village in Yewa-North Local government area of the state.
Odedina explained that the state government had supported farmers, youths and other persons interested in rice value chain , saying that the land border closure paved way for more government support in rice production.
The commissioner added that the border closure was a turning point for rice farmers in the state, saying that governments effort had motivated many who had left production to return with greater enthusiasm.
Other rationale behind the massive rice production, the commissioner stated, was to maintain the status quo of being the largest producer of rice in West Africa and Nigeria.
Odedina hinted that the state was also involved in paddy aggregation for neighboring state like Lagos to enjoy rice without running to the North.
“We have a renewed interest in rice business in Ogun state and we need to be patient for the farmers to harvest and process. We cannot finish this, we need to sell to our neigbouring states. We are taking advantage of the vast land we have in Ogun state to grow rice .
“We are also involving in paddy aggregation so that if neighboring state like Lagos needs rice, there will be no need to go to the North but rather come to Ogun,” he said.
The commissioner, who stressed that off takers were already working to take the rice that were produced during the last season, boasted that this year’s Christmas festival would record massive consumption of rice produced in Ogun state.
“The rice project is currently ongoing across nine local government areas of the state, including Obafemi-Owode, Yewa North and South, Ijebu North and East, Ifo amongst others.
