Khadijat Saidu, Birnin Kebbi
The Republic of Benin and Labana Rice Mills of Kebbi Sate, Nigeria, have commenced bilateral discussion over the possibility of collaboration on large scale production of Rice.
A three-man government delegation from Benin Republic, visited the State for the meeting with both the Board of Directors and Management of the Labana Rice Mills to formulate modalities for the proposed collaboration.
Stallion Times reports that the idea of the partnership was facilitated by the Federal Government after the government had selected Labana Rice Mills amongst others in Nigeria for its proposed plan for Nigerian Rice exportation to African countries, in view of its high capacity and quality of its products.
While addressing the delegation from Benin Republic, the General Manager of Labana, Alhaji Abdullahi Idris Zuru who led the company’s team, informed the visitors that the company has a 16 tonnes per hour capacity.
According to him, the Rice mills has been upgraded to 20 tones per hour while another brand new 20 tonnes per hour capacity will be ready for commissioning early next year and will then require 400,000 metric tonnes of Rice for sustainable production annually.”
The delegation, accompanied by the Chairman, Labana Rice Mills, Alhaji Abubakar Abba Adamu, visited Labana Rice Farms with 10,000 hectares in Bagudo local government area in order to access the company’s capacity in terms of machinery to cultivate large scale farms.
Speaking to newsmen after the inspection, the Director General of Benin Agency for Agricultural Development, Mr Jean Gbeto Dansou said that, with 40 tonnes per hour capacity Rice Mills and 10,000 hectares Rice farm, the government of Benin Republic are ready to go into partnership with the company for mutual benefit.
He said: “with what we saw, the proposal for providing 30,000 hectares of farm land to Labana, along Malaviel and Karimama boundary areas in Benin republic will be deliberated upon when we return home and thereafter, we shall invite you for the Memorandum of Understanding,” he added
However, the delegation from Benin includes the Deputy Ambassador of Benin republic to Nigeria Mr. Alfred Akossoun, Director General of Benin Agency for Agricultural Development Mr Jean Gbeto Dansou and a member of Benin National Assembly Isaa Saley Salfou.
