The Commissioner for Agriculture in Oyo State, Hon. Ojemuyiwa Ojekunle has commended the initiative of the Chairman of Brainfield Agro Limited, Mr. Abayomi Oladipo for deeming it fit to set up an agricultural industry in the state.
Hon. Ojekunle disclosed that the state will give necessary support to ensure the smooth operation of the industry.
The commissioner, who was accompanied by the staff of the Ministry, gave the assurance on Monday during the facility tour of the rice processing plant.
Brainfield Agro Limited is a rice processing plant by Mr. Abayomi Oladipo with a mission to create a market niche for Ofada rice production in Oyo State, Nigeria and overseas.
The firm, according to the Chairman, Mr Oladipo, has in its possession, a rice processing machine which is the largest in the whole South West with production capacity of 9000 tonnes per annum.
He said further that Brainfield, which is sited on two acres of land along Ido-Eruwa road has 12 hectares Ido Local Government with over 100 farmers working to make Oyo State one of the major rice-producing states in the country.
He reiterated the commitment of the firm to work in the direction of the state government’s policy to create job opportunities through agriculture.
Oladipo, a Zoology graduate of University of Ibadan, added that negotiation is ongoing to secure another 300 hectares of land in Ido and 500 hectares in Osogbo with the focus on recruiting over 200 farmers not only to meet up with production capacity of the firm, but also to engage more youths in rice production business.
Earlier in her address, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaja Bolatumi Oloko, encouraged the Chairman and management of the firm to always consider youths and farmers of the host communities for employment.
She also advised the management to bring the partnership proposal to the Ministry for necessary actions and consideration.
In his remark, Oyo State Director, National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Mr. Dambaba Nehemiah, said that it is one of the duties of the institute to give necessary support to any Nigerian that wants to invest in the rice sector.
He maintained that the institute decided to give technical support to Brainfield Agro Limited because it is the only indigenous rice processing plant that is focusing one hundred per cent on Ofada rice production.
Mr. Nehemiah, a rice scientist, disclosed that Ofada rice production is a major area of rice production that the institute has expended so much, in terms of research from laboratory to the commercial level, hence the decision of the Executive Director of the institute to give necessary support including quality analysis, technical advice, product examination, as well as market advice to make sure the company succeed.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
