Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has asked Nigerians to always patronize locally made products, just as Okun Rice Brand is set to hit markets in Ogun State in the middle of next month (November) , 2024 in various sizes ranging between 1 kg and 50 kg per bag
Obasanjo making the call on Thursday, during a facility tour of a 100 metric tonnes daily rice production mill, located at Asero area, near Farmers' Market in Abeokuta, the State capital, said consumption of locally made product such as Okun Rice would ensure sustenance of the rice mill and creation of employment opportunities within value chain of the processing and packaging of locally made Paddy rice in the country
The highly elated former president lauded the initiative of Dr.Biodun Onalaja, the Chief Executive Officer of the company for his resilience and focus in ensuring actualization of the rice mill, urging him to always relate well with rice farmers to ensure sustenance of production as a processing company
He also commended Governor Dapo Abiodun's administration for encouraging private sector partnership in production of Paddy rice, stressing the need for government at all levels to continue to create enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state
Obasanjo was impressed with continuity of the Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security whose two previous Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Dotun Sorunke and Mr. Adeogun and incumbent, Mrs Kehinde Jokotoye for actualization of the rice mill project conceived two years ago
Also speaking, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Global Business Limited,(producer of Okun Rice), Dr. Onalaja while welcoming the former president and top officials to the facility, expressed appreciation to Ogun State Government for creating an enabling environment for investors' businesses to thrive
"The present and immediate past commissioners for Agriculture and their Permanent Secretaries have been instrumental in our success and we appreciate their contributions"
"Our Mill has the capacity to produce 100 metric tonnes of high quality rice daily in various packaging options, ranging from 1 kg, to 50kg . At Okun Rice Mill, we prioritize employment opportunities sustainable agriculture and Nigeria's food security "
"Okun Rice will be available for purchase by mid-November, 2024. Meanwhile , our Mill is open to farmers for Paddy rice processing", he stated
Similarly, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security Hon. Bolu Owotomo reassured that the Prince Dapo Abiodun's administration would continue to encourage public/private sector partnership in business by ensuring proper utilization of government's assets or facilities
The Commissioner who was represented by Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the ministry, Alhaji Suraj Fashola, said that the present administration had demonstrated its support for farmers , providing 24,000 bags of fertilizers to farmers while supplying farm inputs to them at 50 percent subsidized rate , as part of strategic moves to ensure food security in the state
He therefore urged the company to come up with prices that would make the product affordable for consumers to buy at the markets
Process Engineer of Buhler Limited , the company's technical partner,Mr. Ekalavya Kumar, expressed readiness to always provide the needed technical support to sustain the quality of Paddy rice being produced daily
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