Internet farming: all you need to know about rice cultivation.

Internet farming: all you need to know about rice cultivation. Nigeria, which is the largest producer of rice in West Africa and the third in Africa after Egypt and Madagascar producing about 3 million metric tons on the average annually, falls short of meeting its local demand which is placed at about 5 million tons. Rice can be grown anywhere, that is, rice can grow in all the geographical zones of Nigeria depending on the variety. There are numerous varieties of rice that can be cultivated in Nigeria. The process involved in rice cultivation depends on the geographical and ecological factors available. The different varieties thrive in different geographical and ecological zones in Nigeria. The basic fact is to start with good seeds to ensure bumper harvest. Good quality seed can increase yields by 5-20%. Using good seed leads to lower seeding rates, higher crop emergence, reduced replanting, more uniform plant stands, and more vigorous early crop growth. Vigorous growth in early stages reduces weed problems and increases crop resistance to insect pests and diseases. All of these factors contribute to higher yields and more productive rice farms. Good seed should be the pure form of the chosen variety, full and uniform in size, viable with more than 80% germination with good seedling vigor, and free of weed seeds, seed-borne diseases, pathogens, insects, or other matter. Before rice can be planted, the soil should be in the best physical condition for crop growth and the soil surface is level. Land preparation involves plowing and harrowing to ‘till’ or dig-up, mix and level the soil. Tillage allows the seeds to be planted at the right depth, and also helps with weed control. Farmers can till the land themselves using hoes and other equipment or they can be assisted by draft animals, such as buffalo, or tractors and other machinery. Next, the land is leveled to reduce the amount of water wasted by uneven pockets of too-deep water or exposed soil. Effective land leveling allows the seedlings to become established more easily, reduces the amount of effort required to manage the crop, and increases both grain quality and yields. RICE CULTIVATION.

Rice farming in Nigeria: how the Olam group is empowering local farmers to boost productivity.

Rice farming in Nigeria: how the OLAM group is empowering local farmers to boost productivity. Olam is developing a 10,000 hectare fully irrigated paddy farm on greenfield site in Ondorie, Nasarawa State. The farm is expected to yield 10 MT per hectare (over two annual crop cycles), based on four varieties of high-yield rice tested with the West African Rice Development Association. 4,351 hectares are already under cultivation, with a further 3,000 hectares on target for 2018/19. Up to 1000 workers are employed on the farm depending on seasonality. At the heart of the rice farm is a mechanised rice milling facility. The state of the art mill incorporates Satake milling technology and Italian par boiling technology. The mill has a capacity to process 105,000 mts of Rice per annum and the Only ISO 22000 FSMS and FSSC certified rice processing company in Nigeria. The rice-growing communities in Nasarawa, Benue and Kaduna States are supported by Olam with group formation, training and all agri-inputs on credit in order to improve their own paddy yields and revenues with assured buy back system. Over 5000 farmers including women are currently engaged in the programme with an area of 5563 ha, with a target of 16,000 by 2018, ultimately supplying 30-40% of the mill’s capacity. Olam buys paddy from all producing states, controls quality and hires transport to factory. This is how the Olam group is empowering local farmers to boost productivity

RICE FARMING: How to start a rice farm.

RICE FARMING: How to start a rice farm. Nigeria, is the largest producer of rice in West Africa and the third in Africa after Egypt and Madagascar producing about 3 million metric tons on the average annually, falls short of meeting its local demand which is placed at about 5 million tons. Rice can be grown anywhere, that is, rice can grow in all the geographical zones of Nigeria depending on the variety, the area of land used for rice cultivation is relatively minute about 2 million hectares when survey puts it that Nigeria has the potentials of cultivating about 5 million hectares. Rice farming is not only lucrative but rice is a major stable in Nigeria giving access to a lot of market that can be tapped into. Rice farming could be done directly or indirectly and still reap the expected harvest. The array of internet farming has exposed farmers and farming enthusiasts into the agriculture with all eyes on profit while ensuring food security. Rice farming can be done indirectly by investing in rice projects and reaping the profit at the end of tenure. There are several platforms that offer such services,where you can own farms on outskirts while living in urban areas or even overseas. Rice farming indirectly by investing can be done here .Rice farming indirectly is not limited to production alone ,investors can also capitalise on sale of finished products. Prospective rice farmers can start by sales of products,juggling brands to know the most popular brands so as to boost investments. Rice farming directly will involve engaging in all aspects of the process from farm to market. Rice farming like all other agricultural ventures requires insight into the business for it to be successful. Learn all you can by linking up with established farmers ,test the waters at all levels of the chain before you start out. Learn about rice farming here

Nigerian farmers set to cut rice price to N6, 000 per bag.

Nigerian farmers set to cut rice price to N6, 000 per bag. The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria says it will reduce the price of locally produced rice from N18,000 per 50kg bag to N6,000 within the next few months. Aminu Goronyo, the National President of RIFAN, said this during a meeting with Rice Processors Association of Nigeria (RIPAN) and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, in Abuja Mr. Goronyo said although RIFAN and RIPAN had agreed to fix the current price of 50 kg bag of rice at between N13,000 and N13,500, the price would further crash to N6,000 within the next few months if there were bumper harvests and low cost of production. He said the drastic reduction in the price would be made feasible if the cost of rice production was cut through the Federal Government’s support to rice farmers.

Michael Aondoakaa’s rice business attracts America’s attention.

Michael Aondoakaa’s rice business attracts America’s attention. As Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa attracted international attention as a key figure in the cabinet of President Umaru Yar’Adua who provided critical legal cover for the survival of a President plagued with ill-health. Six years after he served as Nigeria’s number one judiciary officer, Mr. Aondoakaa has moved almost seamlessly into a billion naira rice business, which activities have attracted the attention of the US government. On April 8, 2014, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, paid an official visit to Miva Rice Mill located in Makurdi, Benue State. That visit remains a milestone for the rice processing mill founded only in 2011 by the former Attorney General.

35 Year-Old Entrepreneur Who Owns Nigeria's 2nd Largest Rice Farm.

35 Year-Old Entrepreneur Who Owns Nigeria's 2nd Largest Rice Farm. Nigerians consume more than 5 million metric tons of rice every year, with a significant portion of its consumption needs sourced from imports. Rotimi Williams, an ambitious 35 year-old Nigerian entrepreneur and rice farmer, is on a quest to change that. Williams, a former journalist, is the owner of Kereksuk Rice Farm, the second largest commercial rice farm in Nigeria by land size. His farm, which is situated in Nasarawa state in northern Nigeria, currently sits on 45,000 hectares and employs more than 600 natives of Nasarawa.

Dangote to employ several graduates in new rice farming initiative.

Dangote to employ several graduates in new rice farming initiative. A multi-million Naira youth farming initiative that will engage teeming unemployed Nigerian graduates in rice farming has been launched by the Dangote Rice Limited in Kogi State. This is even as the company prepares to hit the market with one million metric tons of Dangote rice in 2018. The Dangote Youth Rice Farm project, mainly an out-grower scheme for youth only, was flagged off at the Lower Niger River Basin Authority, Kampe, Ejiba in Yagba West local government area of the state where youth have embarked on rice cultivation over 100 hectares of land. The rice farm project, which was preceded by a special training for the youth farmers on the dynamics of the rice farming, will see the youth cultivating the rice paddy on 100 hectares of land, which will then be bought over by the company for processing.