The Republican of Benin is to partner with Labana rice farms in Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria for the cultivation of thirty thousand hectares of rice farm in part of its country.
The Benin Republic team led by one of its Senator from the North, Issa Sale Salihu, who visited the ten thousand hectares Labana rice farm at Gante village in Bagudo local government area of Kebbi state, expressed satisfaction with the set up of the model mechanised rice farm saying, by early next year, Benin Republic and Labana ventures would sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the establishment of same farm in their country.
Senator Issa Salihu of Benin Republic who spoke to Radio Nigeria, said establishing same farm in his country in partnership with Labana farms would assist in creating employment for his people.
“My country would provide thirty thousand hectares of land to Labana Ventures for cultivation of rice which will be in ten thousand hectares annually”.
Senator Salihu, explained that, part of the agreement to be reach is that, after harvesting, Labana would process and market the product but only to pay Benin Republic revenue of a certain percentage and as well employ its people.
The Chairman of Labana farms, Alhaji Abubakar Abba Aleiro, told newsmen that, the partnership between Benin Republic and Labana Ventures is a welcome development and soon he will lead a team of management of the firm to Benin Republic for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.
According to him, the rice farm, since its establishment in the last five years produces over seventy thousand tons of paddy rice annually and highly mechanised.
Alhaji Abba Aleiro, added that, as corporate social responsibility, the farm provides free seedlings, fertilizer and pesticides to the neigbouring communities for their farms.
He acknowledged the assistance of the federal government of Nigeria for erecting embarkment between the farm and river Niger to prevent flooding.
Laban rice farm which is ten thousand hectares of land is being cultivated twice annually during rainny and dry season and was also established as a feeder and one of the sources of raw materials to Labana rice Mill and can provide fifty percent of rice production of the mill.
Abdullahi Tukur