The Kwara State Government, under the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has taken a systematic approach to developing the state as a major location for food processing and value chain addition. This vision was recently underlined when the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas, paid a visit to the “I-Need Rice Mill” at Elerinjare Ibobo Community, facilitated by the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC). The visit highlighted the commitment of the state in changing the face of Kwara’s agricultural landscape through the promotion of local processing to reduce dependence on imported goods.
During her visit, Mrs. Thomas commended the “I-Need Rice Mill” for playing a vital role in the elevation of Kwara State’s agricultural profile. According to her, the government is strategically focusing on processing goods in the state in order to add value, stimulate local economies, and create jobs. “We are building a new Kwara, one which not only produces but also processes and adds value to our agricultural commodities, particularly rice,” she said. The commissioner emphasized that the status of Kwara as the leading producer of rice puts the state in a position to dominate the area of processing, hence guaranteeing the locals’ benefitting from locally produced and processed food.
Advancing Value Addition and Export Potential
The Commissioner also flagged the huge successes recorded by the “I-Need Rice Mill,” which has a 100-ton rice polishing machine and produces more than 2,000 bags of rice every day. He said this was in consonance with the state’s goals of reducing post-harvest losses and enhancing livelihoods along the agricultural value chain. Mrs. Thomas extolled the commitment of the mill to gender inclusion, as it involves women in its workforce, in line with Governor AbdulRazaq’s vision for empowerment and gender equality.
Mr. Tajudeen Olaoye from the NEPC praised the government’s advancements in agriculture and expressed the council’s dedication to promoting Kwara’s agricultural products for export. “Kwara State, under Governor AbdulRazaq, has made significant progress in farming, harvest, and food processing. Our goal is to support this progress, especially in rice processing, which holds great potential for national and global markets,” Olaoye noted.
The Chairman of I-Need Agro-Allied Investment Ltd., Mr. Sodiq Ibrahim, praised the government and NEPC for unrelenting support, saying it would continue showing its mission to contribute to Kwara development. His Royal Majesty, Oba Tajudeen Bello—Olaitan II—Olusabi of Elerinjare Ibobo, also applauded the state government’s commitment in agricultural development, community building, and promised continued investment in his community.
The facility tour, which includes the cassava processing unit, paddy rice storage, and rice processing plants, further explains the holistic approach by the government to ensure maximum exploitation of every aspect of the agricultural value chain. There is a new benchmark being set by Kwara State, away from raw material production and towards becoming the leading food processor and exporter in Nigeria—a move guaranteeing long-term economic growth and food security for the state.
