Ogun generates N1bn from rice production in three months

The Ogun State government has raked in a whopping N1 billion in revenue in three months in 2024 from rice production, bringing the state into the league of rice-producing states in the country.

Governor Dapo Abiodun, on Aug 19, confirmed this significant milestone in his quest to feed the nation through the ongoing rice revolution as the state harvested the rice planted in May 2024 at Magboro Rice Farm in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

Speaking at the occasion to mark the harvest, Governor Abiodun said that with the flag-off, Ogun State is not only joining states like Lagos, Kebbi, and Bayelsa in producing locally grown rice for the consumption of the people but is also fostering economic development, creating jobs, and improving livelihoods within the communities.

He said: “This is a 200-hectare rice farm. The farmers are mainly women and youths from all parts of the country and not just from Ogun State alone.

“Each farmer was allocated one hectare of farmland; this means that we have 200 farmers in this cluster. This project started in April this year. They began planting in May, and today we are already harvesting, making it a three-month cycle.”

He added that 20,000 bags of milled rice per cycle should be estimated to cost about N1 billion, noting “So, these 200 farmers, made up of women and youths across the country who farmed here in just three months, have generated a revenue of N1 billion. If they do this three times this year, they will earn N3 billion. We have no business being hungry in Nigeria.”

With an impressive yield of 7 MT per hectare on the 200-hectare pilot project, the state produced approximately 1,400 MT of rice, equivalent to 20,000 bags of milled rice.

This achievement brings in an estimated revenue of ₦1 billion every three months to the state, directly benefiting the out-growers, including many youth and women who are new to farming.

The governor is now scaling up to 2,000 hectares, with plans to expand to 5,000 hectares, projecting ₦10 billion to ₦25 billion in revenue per quarter following the success of the first harvest.

The farm, under the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project, supported by the World Bank, is the brainchild of Governor Abiodun, aimed at driving economic growth and development in the state.