The multi-million Naira rice mill built by Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC at Elele Alimini in Emouha Local Government Area of Rivers State is now running its production to full capacity.
The Commission’s director of agriculture, Dr. Luck Ibanga, made this known during an inspection tour to the facility recently. He expressed satisfaction at the daily production “made possible by the availability of paddies.”
Ibanga stated that there would be enough rice to feed the Niger Delta when paddies are fully cultivated in the region to ensure that the processing plant worked on a daily basis.
He said: “This will increase production, without having to source for paddies outside the region or stall production in the future. Niger Delta farmers will be fully engaged and the economy will boom.”
The six tonnes per hour rice mill has continued to thrive, despite the initial challenge of limited availability of paddies due to the covid pandemic which made it difficult for full production capacity.
Administration and station manager of Elephant Group, Mr Olabode Ojo, explained that his company is working with state governments and other organizations to ensure that farmers from the region are encouraged to go into large scale paddy farming.”
Ojo added: “We will be happy to have farmers from the Niger Delta Region produce paddies. This will help us cut the cost of transporting paddies from other sources.”